"Microwave puffed wood" passed the new product appraisal

On June 24, 2018, the China Forest Products Industry Association organized experts in Shaoxing, Zhejiang to conduct a new product appraisal of "microwave expanded wood," a product jointly developed by the Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, and Nanjing Forestry University. This new product has already been put into production at Zhejiang Fudeli Wood Industry Co., Ltd.

The appraisal meeting was chaired by Secretary-General Shi Feng of the China Forest Products Industry Association. The appraisal expert committee was composed of Academician Jiang Jianchun of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Professor Wu Xiaosong of the Rural Economy Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, Professor Shi Feng, Secretary-General of the China Forest Products Industry Association, Professor Zhang Zhongtao, Director of the First Design Institute of the Forest Products Industry Design Institute of the State Forestry Administration, Professor Fang Chongrong, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Forest Products Quality Inspection Station, Professor He Zhihua, Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Zhejiang Forestry Department, and Professor Jin Chunde, Dean of the College of Engineering of Zhejiang A&F University.

The expert group inspected the production line and process of microwave-expanded wood at Zhejiang Fudeli Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; examined microwave-expanded wood samples; and listened to a report from Fu Feng, head of R&D and director of the Wood Industry Research Institute, on the R&D background, technical difficulties and innovations, intellectual property rights, application and promotion, and future development. The participating experts and R&D unit representatives engaged in a lively discussion on the market prospects of the new product. After review, questioning, and discussion, the appraisal committee unanimously agreed that the product utilizes continuous tunnel-type high-intensity microwave wood treatment technology, resulting in expanded wood with significantly improved permeability and uniform channels for separating weak points. This allows for controllable functional element introduction channels, resolving issues such as difficult and uneven wood impregnation. This new product demonstrates strong innovation from its R&D concept to its key technologies, reaching internationally advanced levels and boasting promising prospects for promotion and application. Further efforts are recommended for its commercialization.

Microwave-expanded wood is based on the innovative theory of weak phase separation in the wood matrix. By placing wood in a microwave tunnel, high-energy microwaves rapidly vaporize the moisture within the wood, breaking through the wood's weak internal structure, creating a new fluid channel system. This new product is the result of 12 years of research, including research projects under the "12th Five-Year Plan" National Science and Technology Support Program. Microwave-expanded wood opens up new avenues for improving the quality of plantation wood in my country and replacing rare species. It can effectively alleviate the shortage of hardwood timber in my country and meet the requirements of the National Science and Technology Innovation Plan for the "Cultivation and Efficient Utilization of Forestry Resources." Microwave-expanded wood can be promoted and applied in the wood processing industry, particularly in solid wood flooring and wood products, effectively increasing the added value and market competitiveness of wood products, effectively overcoming the low-price competition of homogeneous products, and meeting diverse market demands. It has promising prospects for production, application, and commercialization. The Wood Industry Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Forestry has applied for four invention patents and is currently researching and developing a series of microwave-expanded wood products.

Researcher Lu Bin, deputy director of the Wood Industry Research Institute, expressed his gratitude to all the experts and leaders for attending the meeting, and said that under the leadership of relevant departments, he will fully support the technological transformation of microwave puffed wood and accelerate the application scale of new products.