About the Laboratory of Wood Technology
Laboratory of Wood Technology is the structural unit of the Department of Materials and Environmental Technology in the Tallinn University of Technology. Laboratory of Wood Technology focuses on the studies of wood, wooden materials, wood polymer composites, other natural materials and furniture research, development and testing. Additionally, the staff of the Laboratory takes active part in teaching activities and is offering students various research topics on Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral studies level. Laboratory is always open for co-operation with other facilities and enterprises.
The main objectives of the Laboratory of Wood Technology are:
- To prepare higher educated engineers for Estonian woodworking and furniture manufacturing industries
- To develop research studies for efficiently using Estonian forest resources
- To provide additional training, consulting and testing services for companies
Laboratory of Wood Technology has good connections with the Aalto University in Finland, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, USA.
Laboratory of Wood Technology is a member of the The Estonian Furniture Industry Association and Estonian Forest and Wood Industry Association.
Staff
Research
Research and development in the Laboratory of Wood Technology focuses on the rational use of Estonian wood resources and thus the development and research of new wood materials. The aim is to improve the properties and durability of wood materials in different environments.
Research topics are:
- Improvement of the Birch veneer surface properties, adhesion properties and refinement properties.
- Wood and other natural fibre based polymercomposite resistance to UV radiation, moisture and temperature.
- Investigation of the durability of wood in the external environment.
- The effect of the cracks on the hygrothermal properties of the cross laminated timber panels.
Ongoing Research Projects:
Development of a basalt-reinforced plywood composite in cooperation with University of Tartu (Astra+)
The collaborative project "Development of basalt-reinforced plywood composite" between Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Tartu is developing a novel plywood composite reinforced with basalt fabric or mesh. This reinforcement significantly enhances strength, durability and moisture resistance, enabling the use of lower-quality timber and mixed wood species. The innovation supports sustainable material use and expands the applications of plywood in construction and industry.
Increasing the impact of research and supporting the institutional knowledge transfer capacity of research institutions and higher education institutions (Astra+)
Equipment and services
The Laboratory of Wood Technology is equipped to test a wide range of wood-based materials and their finishes, wood veneers, as well as wood-plastic composites (WPCs). The laboratory also has capability to test various types of furniture, furniture components and structures. In addition to material testings, the Laboratory of Wood Technology focuses highly on the research of different wood-based materials and composites.
The Laboratory of Wood Technology houses a unique laboratory-scale veneer peeling and plywood production line, which is one of a kind in Estonia. Under controlled conditions, the line enables the production of high quality veneers with precisely defined properties, allowing to investigate the plywood production parameters and material characteristics.
Material and product testing according to standards: | Research and development projects, testing of plywood and other veneer-based products: |
| Loretta Kalju | Heikko Kallakas |
| Tel: 620 2910 | Tel: 620 2910 |
| E-post: [email protected] | E-post: [email protected] |
Equipment available in the Laboratory of Wood Technology:
- Contact angle measurement system for determining surface properties (Dataphysics);
- Surface roughness tester Mitutoja Surftest 210;
- Optical microscope (Nicon Eclipse ME600 (Zeiss Axiocam 208 Camera));
- AMETEK Brookfield LVDVE digital viscometer for determining the viscosity of adhesives;
- Mettler-Toledo SevenCompact S210 pH meter for determining the pH;
- Instruments for measuring the colour and gloss of wood surfaces: 3NH NR60CP and 3NH G268 Tri-Angle Touch Screen Gloss Meter, 2000 GU, with 20°/60°/85° measurement angles;
- Climate chambers for conditioning and testing wood specimens (CLIMACELL, ILKA);
- UV radiation/weathering cabinets;
- Automatic moisture and temperature measurement devices (Scanntronik);
- Hot presses of various sizes for manufacturing wood-based materials and composites;
- CNC machine (WEEKE Optimat BHC 280) and various saws, a peeling lathe, stationary planer, surface planer, belt sander and bench-mounted pillar drill for wood-processing technology;
- Furniture testing rigs (Hegewald & Peschke);
- Taber Rotary Abraser for determining the abrasion resistance of materials;
- ZwickRoell Z050 mechanical testing machine (50 kN).
Furniture testing
Service | Method |
Tables | EVS-EN 12521 Furniture - Safety, strength and durability - Requirements for domestic tables |
EVS-EN 15372 Furniture - Strength, durability and safety - Requirements for non-domestic tables | |
EVS-EN 527-1,2,3 Office furniture - Work tables and desks | |
EVS-EN 1730 Furniture - Tables - Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability | |
Storage furniture | EVS-EN 14073-2,3 Office furniture - Storage furniture |
EVS-EN 14749 Domestic and kitchen storage units and kitchen-worktops - Safety requirements and test methods | |
Chairs | EVS-EN 12520 Furniture - Safety, strength and durability - Requirements for domestic seating |
EVS-EN 1022 Furniture - Seating - Determination of stability | |
EVS-EN 16139 Furniture - Safety, strength and durability - Requirements and test methods for non-domestic seating | |
EVS-EN 1335-1,2,3 Office furniture - Office work chair | |
EVS-EN 12727 Furniture - Ranked seating - Requirements for safety, strength and durability | |
EVS-EN 1728 Furniture - Seating - Test methods for the determination of strength and durability | |
Furniture for educational institutions | EVS-EN 1729-1,2 Furniture - Chairs and tables for educational institutions |
Outdoor furniture | EVS-EN 581-1,3 Outdoor furniture - Seating for camping, domestic and contract use |
Surfaces | EVS-EN 12720 Furniture - Assessment of surface resistance to cold liquids |
Testing of wood-based materials and composites
Service | Method |
Testing of adhesives | EVS-EN 828 Adhesives - Wettability - Determination by measurement of contact angle and surface free energy of solid surface |
EVS-EN 1465 Adhesives - Determination of tensile lap-shear strength of rigid-to-rigid bonded assemblies | |
EVS-EN ISO 8510-2 Adhesives - Peel test for a flexible-bonded-to-rigid test specimen assembly - Part 2: 180 degree peel | |
EVS-EN 205 Adhesives - Wood adhesives for non-structural applications - Determination of tensile shear strength of lap joints | |
Water vapour permeability of wood materials and surface finishes | EVS-EN ISO 12572 Hygrothermal performance of building materials and products - Determination of water vapour transmission properties |
EVS-EN ISO 7783 Paints and varnishes - Determination of water-vapour transmission properties - Cup method | |
Air permeability of wood-based materials | NS 3261 Test methods for rigid flat sheets - Determination of air permeability |
Testing of plywood, wood particle- and fibreboards | EVS-EN 310 Wood-based panels - Determination of modulus of elasticity in bending and bending strength |
| EVS-EN 789 Timber structures - Test methods - Determination of mechanical properties of wood based panels | |
EVS-EN 314-1,2 Plywood - Bonding quality | |
EVS-EN 317 Particleboards and fibreboards - Determination of swelling in thickness after immersion in water | |
EVS-EN 319:2000 Particleboards and fibreboards - Determination of tensile strength perpendicular to the plane of the board | |
EVS-EN 320 Particleboards and fibreboards - Determination of resistance to axial withdrawal of screws | |
Testing of wood-plastic composites | EVS-EN 15534 Composites made from cellulose-based materials and thermoplastics (usually called wood-polymer composites (WPC) or natural fibre composites (NFC)) |
ISO 16616 Test methods for natural fibre-reinforced plastic composite (NFC) deck boards |
Service | Method | Test description |
Wood impregnation test | Laboratory methodology | Testing various impregnating agents and evaluating their effect on wood |
Wood finish test | Laboratory methodology | Testing various surface finishes and evaluating the results on wood surfaces |
Conditioning wood-based materials and wood composites | Laboratory methodology | Conditioning of materials under specific environmental conditions and determination of changes in material properties related to moisture |
EVS-EN 318 Wood based panels - Determination of dimensional changes associated with changes in relative humidity | ||
Accelerated aging of wood materials and composites | Laboratory methodology | Material aging and durability under various environmental conditions: humidity (0–99%) and between temperatures (-20…95˚C) |
Natural outdoor exposure test of wood materials and finishes | Laboratory methodology | Outdoor weathering and durability assessment of various wood and finishing materials, combined with automated moisture and temperature logging |
EVS-EN 927-3 Paints and varnishes - Coating materials and coating systems for exterior wood - Part 3: Natural weathering test | ||
UV-aging of wood-based materials and composites UV-curing of finishing materials | Laboratory methodology | Simulation of solar aging of materials and surface finishes using UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation in UV-chambers, also UV-curing tests for finishing materials |
Investigation of wood surface properties using a microscope | Laboratory methodology | Investigation of wood surface structure using a light microscope |
History
The Laboratory of Wood Technology (e.k kateeder) was founded in the year of 1979 by the initiative of the Estonian Woodworking Industry. The founding of the laboratory in Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) enabled the training of engineers in wood processing fields.
Key milestones in the history of the Laboratory of Wood Technology:
| 1976 | Joint Order of the Ministry of Forest and Wood Industry of the Estonian SSR and the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education of the Estonian SSR: "On the training of woodworking specialists and the establishment of an educational and training base" |
| 1977 | First intake (50 students) for the 5-year "Wood Processing Technology" curriculum |
| 1979 | Order of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Education dated 19 April concerning the establishment of the Department of Woodworking at the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute (TPI), effective from 1st of September 1979 |
| 1981 | TTMTK "Standard" builds a lectern´s phase I training base of 1200 m² at Marja 9 |
| 1982 | The first class of the Wood Processing Technology curriculum receives their diplomas as technology engineers |
| 1986 | TTMTK "Standard" is developing Phase II of its training facility at Marja 9, comprising 550 m² of training workshops and laboratories |
| 1990 | The Department of Woodworking starts training specialists for the pulp and paper industry |
| 1991 | Admission to the undergraduate study programme "Materials Technology" |
| 1992 | The Department of Wood Processing is being renamed the Chair of Wood Processing |
| 1993 | The premises and equipment of the Chair of Wood Processing will be transferred to the balance sheet of TUT (Tallinn University of Technology) |
| 1995 | Admission to the "Production Engineering" Bachelor's study programme |
| 1998 | Admissions are announced for the Wood Processing diploma program (KDP) |
| 2001 | Tallinn University of Technology is building a 860 m² new teaching facility at Teaduspargi 5 (TallTech Puidumaja) and the Chair of Wood Processing is moving to the new location |
| 2002 | Admissions are opening for the new Bachelor's study programme KAOB and the Master's study programme KAOM |
| 2008 | In February, furniture testing rigs from Hegewald-Peschke were installed in the testing laboratory at TUT’s Chair of Wood Processing to determine the strength, durability, and stability of chairs, tables, and storage furniture. These testing rigs enable testing in accordance with the requirements of European and international standards The Taber Rotary Abraser, a device widely used around the world, was put into service at the TUT´s Furniture and Wood Materials Testing Laboratory, enabling the determination of abrasion resistance in accordance with standard requirements |
| 2013 | Admissions are opening for the new Master's programme KVEM "Technology of Wood and Plastic" |
| 2014 | Admissions are opening for the new Bachelor's study programme "Wood and Textile Technology" |
| 2017 | As part of the structural reform at TUT, a new Institute of Materials and Environmental Technology will be established on the 1st of January 2017, and the Chair of Wood Processing will be renamed the Laboratory of Wood Technology |
| 2017 | Admissions are opening for the new Bachelor's study programme EANB "Materials Technology" |
| 2018 | The only R&D center in Northern and Central Europe featuring a full-scale veneer and plywood production line is opening at TalTech’s Laboratory of Wood Technology; it offers companies and educational institutions opportunities to test technologies and products, while also providing vocational training and conduct examinations |
Heads of the Departments / chairs / laboratories:
| 1979-1988 | Docent Tiit Kaps |
| 1988-1997 | Associate Professor Aadu Sillajõe |
| 1997-2000 | Docent Rein Reiska |
| 2000-2010 | Professor Tiit Kaps |
| 2010-2011 | Docent Pille Meier |
| 2012- | Professor Jaan Kers |
Contact
Laboratory of Wood Technology
Teaduspargi 5,
12618 Tallinn
Estonia
Tel: 620 2910
E-mail: [email protected]
Building of Woodworking
