Development of a construction panel made from crushed wood scrim
- Degree programme: Master of Science in Wood Technology
- Author: Johannes Crux
- Thesis advisor: Prof. Dr. Heiko Thömen
- Expert: Prof. Dr. Joachim Hasch
- Year: 2025
The Scrimber technology is used to create high-performance materials from low-quality wood. A novel single-layer board was developed using an industrially viable process. The developed panel shows promising results for a scaleable, resource-efficient usecases.
Introduction
The Scrimber-Technology offers a resource efficient way to produce materials with high mechanical properties from low quality wood assortments. In this thesis, a single layer board is developed and manufactured from scattered Scrimber-Strands, taking into account the industrial feasibility. Such a board does not yet exist and there is no detailed information on an industrially viable manufacturing process. Therefore, in this thesis, a single layer oriented board is developed and tested, which can later be applied in the core layers of cross-laminated timber. The board is produced in a self developed laboratory process with regards to an industrial scale up. The laboratory process includes glue application in a glue drum, unidirectional mat forming in a forming mould and pressing in a hot press. It has been possible to develop an industry-oriented laboratory process with homogeneous Scrimber-Strand orientation and very homogeneous density distribution.
Results
Panels produced using this process achieve a flexural strengths of approximately 62 N/mm2, E-modulus of 17’000 N/mm2, which exceeds the target values of 16 N/mm2 and 8’000 N/mm2. The target value for thickness swelling has not yet been achieved and achieving the shear modulus of solid wood with Scrimber panels does not seem possible.
Conclusion
Scrimber can be a solution for the resource efficient use of wood in the construction sector and this work provides a reproducible method of production on a laboratory scale that can be scaled up industrially. Evaluation of the tests shows that this Scrimber process is quite competitive compared to other scrimber processes and and can be used as a basis for further development.
