Dr. Lei Han, InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM researcher, prepared the article Innovative engineered wood products from THM densified wood, published in the magazine Panels and Furniture Asia.

In the article, Dr. Han explores how thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) densification can improve the performance of wood and enable new applications in engineered timber products. The process combines heat, moisture and mechanical pressure to create denser wood with improved mechanical properties, including stiffness and bending strength, and potential benefits for timber products exposed to elevated temperatures.

The article presents research conducted at InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM within the WoDeFi project, focusing on two promising applications: fire-resilient engineered timber products and self-tightening wooden dowels for adhesive-free and metal-free timber connections. The research demonstrates the potential of THM densified wood to enable new functions and applications in timber construction while supporting more circular construction approaches.