Reference projects

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is widely used in furniture construction. It has a very homogeneous surface that can be coated particularly smoothly. Furthermore, it can be produced economically and sustainably from regionally available wood and recycled waste wood. As a result, it also plays a major role in the construction industry - for example as a substrate for floor coverings or wall panels. Through this research project, we are aiming to make MDF and similar fiberboards even more sustainable. In collaboration with industrial partners, we are developing a formaldehyde-free adhesive system with bio-based materials that are available on the market at low cost. The special highlight: The new adhesive system functions without conventional adhesives.

Lightweight vehicles and construction materials are particularly energy efficient. With the goal of achieving the lowest possible weight combined with good thermal insulation, composite materials are often used that can only be recycled to a very limited extent, if at all. In addition, they are usually comprised of petrochemical or other finite raw materials. In collaboration with industrial partners, we are developing a resource- and climate-friendly solution: recyclable lightweight-construction materials on the basis of renewable raw materials with individual forming possibilities. The special feature: the integration of a functional layer should enable the production of heatable furniture and interior components with a lighting function. The application and market potential is very high throughout all sectors.

Furniture must fulfill diverse requirements. It should be affordable, stable, easy to move house with, aesthetically pleasing and, ideally, flexible in its design. As a result, it often consists of a number of components and materials. With sustainability in mind, the recyclability of furniture is increasingly becoming the focus of attention. The decisive factor here is that the utilized materials can be fully separated by type. In collaboration with the design company Studio Jonathan Radetz, we are developing a furniture system that is comprised of just two materials, each with excellent recyclability: tubular steel and natural-fiber textiles. Thanks to an innovative construction principle and ultra-modern weaving technology, these materials are being used to create furniture and design elements that can be easily dismantled, converted, transported, and recycled to a high standard. We are demonstrating the feasibility of this by means of seating elements for semi-public spaces.

How can road reconstructions be planned more economically and with fewer traffic disruptions? The point in time at which an asphalt road fails depends on the structural condition of the asphalt base layer. Inspections are currently only possible on a random basis via core analysis and cause additional damage to the road. In collaboration with research and industry partners, we are developing a solution: an intelligent measuring system that allows the condition of the asphalt base layer to be monitored continuously, comprehensively and non-destructively. The basis for the measuring system is a sensor fabric in the asphalt. At the Fraunhofer WKI, we are developing suitable fabric constructions on the basis of natural fibers as well as a process for the gentle integration of the electrically conductive sensor material into the fabric.

How can particularly sustainable thermal insulation materials be produced for buildings? With fungi! In collaboration with the Braunschweig-based start-up “YcoLabs”, we are using the organic growth of fungal mycelium as a natural binder in order to process plant residues such as hemp hurds, wood shavings or elephant-grass fibers into insulation materials. One particular advantage: The insulation materials can be allowed to grow into virtually any shape and size. This makes them very versatile. In order to demonstrate the performance capabilities of the fungal insulation materials, we are producing prototypes for an application example and testing them in a real operational environment. In subsequent pilot projects with the construction industry, we aim to further develop the insulation materials into a variety of marketable products. In this way, we are providing a contribution towards an increase in the proportion of renewable raw materials in buildings and, consequently, towards achieving climate- and environmental-protection targets.

Heat, drought, storms, bark beetles: In the Harz National Park, climate change is leading to widespread forest damage. Reforestation will take decades. This has a significant impact on the timber and forestry industry, tourism and, consequently, the well-being of the regional population. In collaboration with research and regional partners, we are developing various scenarios for reforestation and are predicting their ecosystem services as well as their socio-economic effects above and beyond this. One approach involves replacing the dead spruce stands with more climate-resistant deciduous tree species. At the Fraunhofer WKI, we are investigating the achievable wood quality and yield as well as the suitability of the wood for the production of wood-based materials.

With this project, we would like to demonstrate how agroforestry systems with fast-growing poplars can enable sustainable agriculture whilst simultaneously strengthening the wood industry. In collaboration with research and practice partners, we are establishing model regions in Northern Germany and developing innovative value chains for poplar wood – in particular for material use. The focus of the Fraunhofer WKI thereby lies on the development of wood-based materials and hybrid material composites. Through the optimization of poplar cultivation, suitable wood qualities and assortments are to be achieved. In order to facilitate the entry of agricultural and wood-utilizing companies into the agroforestry value chains and to ensure the purchase of wood at stable conditions, cooperation models are being developed and networks established within the project.

Re-using wood several times: Good for the climate, technically possible and economically interesting. However, products made from waste wood are difficult to market. The problem is that potential buyers need to understand the benefits of waste-wood products and be able to trust that waste wood has indeed been utilized. For this reason, we are, in collaboration with the Thünen Institute, developing scientifically based recommendations for action with regard to quality assurance and end-user awareness - for example with the help of certificates and quality seals. As waste wood is almost exclusively utilized materially in particle-board production, we are focusing on this material and the products made therefrom, in particular furniture. The aim is to increase the market share of products based on waste wood and, consequently, to provide a contribution towards both the efficient use of raw materials and climate protection.

Every year, tons of waste wood accrue during the construction and demolition of buildings. A large proportion of this stems from structural timber components - for example roof trusses, ceiling beams or timber frameworks. At present, most of this high-quality waste wood is directly burned in order to generate energy. The aim of this joint project under the leadership of the Technische Universität Braunschweig is therefore to find a holistic, economical solution for the utilization of structural waste wood in the re-production of load-bearing timber-construction elements. At the Fraunhofer WKI, we are developing a portable analysis device for this purpose, which is intended to enable the minimally destructive in-situ examination of installed wood with regard to possible pollutant contamination - with a particular focus on wood preservatives. The project not only provides a contribution towards ensuring that more waste wood can be reused as a high-quality material in the future, but also supports the development of a sustainable, bio-based circular economy.

Around 8 to 10 million metric tonnes of waste wood accrue in Germany every year. A good 80 percent of this is used directly for energy, i.e. incinerated. In order to make more efficient use of wood as a resource, it is necessary for significantly more waste wood to be materially re-used (material recycling). One obstacle is the fact that up to now, considerable effort has been required in order to determine possible contamination. A significant simplification is being developed within a project led by the University of Greifswald in collaboration with the Fraunhofer WKI and industrial companies: the optimization of “X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF)” for the sample type waste wood. The new analysis method should be quick and easy to use for all parties involved in the waste-wood value chain – for example recycling companies, wood-based material manufacturers and authorities.