Reference projects

Particle boards are a sustainable and inexpensive construction material for houses and furniture. They can be produced from regionally available wood residues and recycled waste wood. Through this research project, particle boards will become even more sustainable. In collaboration with industrial partners, we are developing particle boards that are produced using a new kind of adhesive which should not contain any health-critical formaldehyde and which consists entirely of biogenic raw materials. Furthermore, we are conducting tests to determine whether the particle boards can be produced using alternative types of wood, which will be increasingly available in the future as a result of forest restructuring.

Lightweight cars, trucks and trains made from renewable raw materials can contribute towards the protection of resources and the climate. As a joining technology for the production of lightweight components, adhesive bonding offers particular advantages and is therefore increasingly gaining in importance. In collaboration with research and industry partners, we are developing a bio-based, switchable PU adhesive for large surfaces. This should enable the production of panel-shaped laminated materials made from wood or wood and metal, which are not formed into 3D components until a later stage in the process chain. This opens up new possibilities for the flexible, economically efficient production of sustainable lightweight vehicles as well as for repair purposes and recycling. The special feature: Thanks to the re-detachable adhesive bond, it should be possible to separate the wood and metal according to type and with as little damage as possible.

Climate change presents major challenges for the German forestry and timber industries. Extreme weather events and the mass reproduction of insect pests have caused enormous damage to the forests. In particular, spruce trees have fallen victim en masse to droughts, storms and bark beetles. The majority of the damaged or dead spruce trees cannot be harvested promptly. Some of them remain standing and lying for several years. Is the wood quality then still sufficient for the production of durable construction products or wood-based materials? Within the framework of this project, we are investigating this question in collaboration with partners from research and industry. With the creation of a guideline, we also intend to provide specific recommendations for action for forest owners and the timber industry.

The primary objective of the EU project RECREATE is the development of innovative technologies for promoting the profitable re-utilization of end-of-life composite components for industrial applications. The project is divided into different technological use cases and addresses a multitude of different target sectors such as wind energy or the automotive industry. The Fraunhofer institutes IWU and WKI are working in collaboration with further partners on the design and manufacture of reusable fiber-composite structures for a wind-power rotor blade.

Resource conservation and energy efficiency determine the future of construction. Wood is an environmentally friendly and versatile building material. In addition to its ecological assessment, it also offers some technical advantages. Innovative timber-hybrid systems have even better mechanical properties, higher durability and allow for slender structures. Therefore, they are not only more resource efficient but also expand the architectural scope. In this project, we investigate and optimize the long-term behavior of wood hybrid systems, thereby laying the foundation for their use in the construction industry. Our main goal is to significantly increase the use of wood in building construction.

In its Nationale Wasserstoffstrategie (national hydrogen strategy) in 2020, the German government committed to establishing green hydrogen as the key technology for the energy revolution. Demand for hydrogen fuel cells will therefore increase in the future, for example for the expansion of electromobility through fuel-cell vehicles, emergency power supply or as combined heat-and-power plants for the dual generation of electricity and heat for industry (process heat) as well as office and residential buildings (heating). Until now, fuel cells have mainly been comprised of metal and petrochemical plastics. The aim of this project with two research partners is a bio-based fuel-cell system. It should not only be more sustainable but also more compact, lighter and less expensive than conventional systems. To achieve this, the Fraunhofer WKI is developing high-performance wood-based materials and biopolymers for the production of electrically conductive compounds.

Shelves, cupboards and other items of furniture are often made from fiberboard. Currently, they are usually produced using petrochemical binders that emit hazardous formaldehyde. With support from the Fraunhofer WKI, designer Sofia Souidi is developing a formaldehyde-free material made from wood fibers and casein – a binder that was already being used as an adhesive many centuries ago. Mixed-in color pigments and granulates combined with 3D moldability enable a diverse range of design possibilities. The material is to be made, amongst other things, from recycled components and should itself be recyclable.

Whether buildings or vehicles: Many load-bearing components can now be made from wood, in particular from bonded wood-based materials and hybrid materials. Their aging behavior has, however, not been sufficiently researched up to now. Conventional methods for testing durability in outdoor applications are either laborious or, due to their requirements, inappropriate for the application. Both can lead to considerable increases in costs for manufacturers and customers. In collaboration with Kassel University, we are developing a realistic rapid-aging procedure that can be utilized in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

How can prefabricated houses be built even more efficiently and with even lower resource consumption? In collaboration with our project partners, we are developing switchable adhesives for the face-to-face joining of cement-bonded wood-based panels. This enables the production of low-waste continuous panels. The adhesive systems available up until now have not been suitable for this purpose as a result of their limited processing time. With switchable adhesives, the bonds can be simply produced and then released again. This not only saves material but also increases the flexibility in construction and the recyclability of the building elements.

Constructing with renewable raw materials is good for the climate and conserves resources. The load-bearing capacity and durability of bonded wood-based materials and wood joints are playing an ever-increasing role – particularly in multi-story buildings. How well wood can be bonded depends, amongst other things, on the wood's own extractives. In collaboration with the Universität Hamburg, we are investigating the extractives content of various woods and their influence on bonding properties. In doing so, we are creating the foundation for wood species-specific adhesive systems in the construction industry – including for hardwoods, which will be used more extensively in the future.