Joining and Reassembling of Wood

Book chapter, 2023

Commonly the raw material round timber is reduced into smaller parts such as solid wood boards, sheets of veneer, strands, particles, and fibers for further manufacturing and processing. In following steps, the single wooden pieces are joined together by adhesive bonding to achieve the final structures such as various types of wood laminations or wood-based panels. This chapter describes the various mechanical connecting and adhesive bonding solutions. Different mechanical connector systems are introduced in theory and practice. A major part of the chapter is dedicated to wood adhesion and the basic aspects of the wood-adhesive interactions. Various adhesive types, their chemistries, morphologies, and their processes of solidification and curing are introduced, and additionally their utility in wood bonding is emphasized. Different methods of assessing and testing bond strength are also presented.

Linear-friction wood welding, as an innovative approach for bonding, which is not yet fully established in practice, is also described. Pressing processes are indispensable in the various adhesive bonding processes of wood in order to produce wood-based materials from veneers, particles, and fibers. Different basic pressing types and press processes are given and are discussed with respect to their application.