Wood
Wood surface, showing several features Wood is a hard, fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It has been used for thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression. Wood is sometimes defined as only the secondary xylem in the stems of trees,[1] or it is defined more broadly to include the same type of tissue elsewhere such as in tree roots or in other plants such as shrubs.[citation needed] In a living tree it performs a support function, enabling woody plants to grow large or to stand up by themselves. The Earth contains about one trillion tonnes of wood, which grows at a rate of 10 billion tonnes per year. History Wood can be dated by carbon dating and in some species by dendrochronology to make inferences about when a wooden object was created. Physical properties Knots
Paper
In Northern Ireland, nearly 20% of the material in our bins is paper. Paper is all around us as books, newspapers, printer paper, labels on cans and bottles, posters on the walls and many other products. In the past processed animal skins called parchment was used for writing in Europe. In Ancient Egypt a plant called papyrus was used. It was cut into thin strips that were laid over each other, soaked and beaten with a stick to bind them together Today almost all paper is made from cellulose fibre from pulped wood, but paper can be made from many things including cotton, straw, bamboo and even elephant dung! Many areas of the world produce large amounts of wood, some of which is used in the paper industry and include South America, Indonesia, South Africa and Europe. Trees for making paper are now usually grown in ‘sustainable forests’, this means that new trees are planted to replace those cut down. Sometimes old forests are cut down for their wood and then replaced with new trees.
Engineered wood
Engineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board; includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers or boards of wood, together with adhesives, or other methods of fixation[1] to form composite materials. These products are engineered to precise design specifications which are tested to meet national or international standards. Engineered wood products are used in a variety of applications, from home construction to commercial buildings to industrial products.[2] The products can be used for joists and beams that replace steel in many building projects.[3] Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same hardwoods and softwoods used to manufacture lumber. Flat pack furniture is typically made out of man-made wood due to its low manufacturing costs and its low weight, making it easy to transport. Types of products[edit] Adhesives[edit] Urea-formaldehyde resins (UF)
Building with Wood | Wood Construction
As building technologies evolve, one material remains as in-demand as ever: wood. Wood costs less – economically and environmentally – and it’s one of the most beautiful, versatile, durable and renewable raw materials available. Wood costs less and delivers more Wood-frame construction is faster, material costs are lower, and construction is simpler. Wood can be locally sourced and is usually less expensive than alternative building materials. Wood-frame assembly and wood products are readily available, and generally, wood can be delivered in far less time than other materials, such as steel and concrete.
