Department of Sustainable Biomaterials

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/23939

The Department of Sustainable Biomaterials was formerly the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products. The name was changed in 2012.

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Cellulose derivatives with a low degree of substitution
(United States Patent and Trademark Office, 1996-06-04)
The invention is directed to the formation of cellulose derivatives using homogenous phase reaction conditions. Cellulose is dissolved using DMAc/LiCl and a reagent system is added to promote the acylation of an appropriate acid anhydride or free carboxylic acid. One reagent system includes N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) and 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (PP). Another reagent system includes p-toluene sulfonyl chloride (TsCl) and pyridine (Py).
Creative Achievements 2001
(The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, 2001)
Creative Achievements 2002
(The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, 2002)
Creative Achievements 2003
(The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, 2003)
Creative Achievements 2004
(The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, 2004)
Benchmarking Performance Measurement and the Implementation of Lean Manufacturing in the Secondary Wood Processing Rough Mill
Cumbo, Dan; Kline, D. Earl; Van Aken, Eileen M.; Smith, Robert L. (Virginia Tech, 2004-09)
It is hypothesized that, while other components of the secondary wood products value stream; e.g., moulding, turning, sanding, etc, are being integrated and “leaned up” so to speak, the rough mill represents a real or perceived barrier to full implementation of lean manufacturing tools, techniques and concepts. This study investigated the implementation of lean manufacturing in the rough mill as well as performance measurement and metrics at both the rough mill and overall business level. Data were collected from a nationwide survey of secondary wood processing facilities.
Evaluating Markets for Small Diameter Timber: A Case Analysis in Northern Mississippi
Perkins, Brian; Smith, Robert L.; Jackson, Jerry (Virginia Tech, 2005-04)
Small diameter timber (SDT) has emerged as a national problem in the forest products industry due to catastrophic forest fires in the West, increases in imported pulp in the South and high grading in the Central and Eastern U.S. This research evaluated the potential markets for small diameter hardwood and softwood timber resources in Northern Mississippi. Traditionally, SDT has been used primarily as pulpwood in the production of pulp and paper products. However, demand for pulpwood has decreased due to the increase of imported pulp. Exports of paper products from Mississippi decreased 18% between 1999 and 2003, while exports of wood products increased 82% during the same time period¹. Stumpage prices of softwood pulpwood in the southern region have declined during this period from approximately $10/ton to $6.35/ton currently. Stumpage prices of hardwood pulpwood in the southern region have increased slightly to $5.43/ton². Due to the low prices of small diameter timber, value added products need to be explored so that SDT harvesting is economically feasible. The combination of weak pulpwood markets and the lack of alternative markets for SDT have led to an increased supply of SDT. In Northern Mississippi it is estimated that timber growth in non-industrial private forests exceeds removals by 750,000 cords per year³. Currently there are few value added markets that can utilize the SDT resource (< 9-11” DBH). The objectives of this research were: 1) to explore existing products that can utilize SDT, 2) identify markets in Northern Mississippi that can utilize SDT and 3) identify the viable markets for SDT.
Intra-Ring Compression Strength of Low Density Hardwoods
Zink-Sharp, Audrey G.; Price, Carlile (Universidad del Bío-Bío, 2006)
Engineered wood composites are being crafted with increasingly smaller and smaller components, yet a search of the literature indicates a lack of intra-ring mechanical property data for almost all commercial wood types, particularly the underutilized low density hardwoods. In addition, there is no universally accepted testing regime for determining micromechanical properties of wood samples. As a result, we developed a testing system for determining compression, tension, and bending properties of growth ring regions of wood samples. Our microtesting system consists of a 45.4 kg load stage, motor drive, data acquisition system, motor control, load cell, strain transducer, and software. In this study, intra-ring compression strength parallel to the grain was determined for small samples (a few ml3 in volume) of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), and red maple (Acer rubrum). It was determined that compression strength is weakly correlated with specific gravity but unrelated to growth rate. Specific gravity was also unrelated to growth rate. Sweetgum values were intermediate between yellow-poplar and red maple.
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.1 (April 10, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-04-10)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.2 (April 17, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-04-17)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.3 (April 24, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-04-24)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.4 (May 1, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-05-01)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.5 (May 8, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-05-08)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.6 (May 15, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-05-15)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.7 (May 22, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-05-22)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.8 (May 29, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-05-29)
Center Focus, June 2006
(Virginia Tech, 2006-06)
The Center for Forest Products Business produces a newsletter, The Center Focus, once a calendar quarter. This newsletter details upcoming events, new members, feature articles, and other happenings at the Center.
¿Cómo integrar la estrategia de una empresa con su sistema de gestión de calidad?
Quesada, Henry Jose; Aguilar Rodriguez, Silvia; Espinoza, Carlos (Instituto Tecnologico De Costa Rica, 2006-06-01)
Se realizó una investigación con el fin de contar con una guía que permita desarrollar sistemas de gestión de calidad integrados con la estrategia, que no solo evalúen la capacidad de la empresa de ofrecer productos / servicios con el nivel de calidad requerido, sino que también midan la eficacia del sistema de gestión de calidad en apoyar a la empresa a alcanzar su visión. Esto por cuanto lo que se pudo determinar de la situación actual es que se deja a la mera percepción de las gerencias el evaluar la eficacia del sistema de gestión de salidad. La principal conclusión de esta investigación es que los sistemas de gestión de calidad deben dejar de ser operativos y deben pasar a un plano más gerencial, para proveer información que permita tomar decisiones sobre la orientación estratégica de la empresa. Finalmente, se validó la metodología en una empresa y se logró comprobar que la metodología es aplicable, pues permite definir métricas que integren la estrategia de la empresa con su sistema de gestión de calidad y de este modo se facilita la evaluación de la eficacia de dicho sistema.
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.9 (June 5, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-06-05)
Inside VT Wood v.1:no.10 (June 19, 2006)
(Department of Wood Science & Forest Products, 2006-06-19)