Interim tests for CELLUWOOD materials 
Project meeting 7-8 July 2014, Valencia (Spain) 
AIDIMA (Miguel Ángel Abián)
2 
WP 8: ASSESSMENT OF CELLUWOOD 
MATERIAL
3 
Previously, in WP7 some lignin, PUR and MUF beams where manufactured at 
TECNIFUSTA for interim testing. Those interim tests led to changes in the 
formulation of the lignin resin by CHIMAR in order to achieve a satisfactory and 
effective final resin. 
In 2014, 20 complete beams (nominal dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2200 mm) were 
manufactured at TECNIFUSTA in collaboration with CHIMAR and AIDIMA: 
• 10 beams with their lamellae glued by the final lignin resin developed in the 
project (CELLUWOOD beams). 
• 10 beams with their lamellae glued by commercial PUR. 
All lamellae were made of timber classified as C24. 
10 commercial beams (nominal dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2200 mm) made with MUF 
resin were used in order to compare strength and behaviour with the other 20 beams. 
The commercial beams are classified as GL24h. 
All beams were made of Picea abies wood.
4 
Measurement of the moisture content of timber 
Preparation of the lignin resin for its 
application
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
PUR beams 12
13
14
15 
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS (ULTRASOUNDS): PUR BEAMS
16 
Beam 1 (moisture content: 11.2%; dimensions: 120 x 123 x 2201 mm). 
Beam 1 (PUR resin) Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,619 12,890 33.5 C30 
2nd glue line 5,621 12,901 33.6 C30 
1st lamella 5,682 13,883 35.1 C35 
2nd lamella 5,635 12,988 33.9 C30 
3rd lamella 5,513 12,223 30.8 C30 
Beam 2 (moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2199 mm). 
Beam 2 (PUR resin) Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,651 12,879 33.4 C30 
2nd glue line 5,862 14,204 38.7 C35 
1st lamella 5,604 12,586 32.3 C30 
2nd lamella 5,714 13,276 35.0 C35 
3rd lamella 5,812 13,889 37.5 C35 
Beam 3 (moisture content: 11.1%; dimensions: 119 x 122 x 2202 mm). 
Beam 3 (PUR resin) Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,913 15,146 42.4 C40 
2nd glue line 5,573 13,015 34.0 C30 
1st lamella 6,001 15,692 44.6 C40 
2nd lamella 5,828 14,615 40.3 C40 
3rd lamella 5,528 12,731 32.9 C30
17 
Beam 4 (moisture content: 11.4%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2198 mm). 
Beam 4 (PUR resin) Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,651 13,086 34.3 C30 
2nd glue line 5,382 11,401 27.6 C27 
1st lamella 5,746 13,686 36.6 C35 
2nd lamella 5,483 12,037 30.1 C30 
3rd lamella 5,312 10,961 25.8 C24 
Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. 
We need to analyze the results in more detail.
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS (ULTRASOUNDS): COMMERCIAL MUF BEAMS 
18 
GL24
19 
Beam 1 (moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2202 mm). 
Beam 1 (MUF 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,721 13,324 35.2 C35 
2nd glue line 5,515 12,028 30.1 C30 
1st lamella 5,691 13,133 34.5 C30 
2nd lamella 5,487 11,850 29.4 C27 
3rd lamella 5,501 11,939 29.7 C27 
Beam 2 (moisture content: 10.9%; dimensions: 121 x 120 x 2201 mm). 
Beam 2 (MUF 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,376 11,365 27.4 C27 
2nd glue line 5,602 12,779 33.1 C30 
1st lamella 5,350 11,196 26.8 C24 
2nd lamella 5,607 12,784 33.2 C30 
3rd lamella 5,661 13,151 34.5 C30 
Beam 3 (moisture content: 10.3%; dimensions: 122 x 120 x 2198 mm). 
Beam 3 (MUF 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,602 12,986 33.9 C30 
2nd glue line 5,529 12,532 32.1 C30 
1st lamella 5,623 12,991 33.9 C30 
2nd lamella 5,631 13,171 34.6 C30 
3rd lamella 5,404 11,743 28.9 C27
20 
Beam 4 (moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2201 mm). 
Beam 4 (MUF 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,431 11,915 29.6 C27 
2nd glue line 5,363 11,487 27.9 C27 
1st lamella 5,204 10,481 24.1 C24 
2nd lamella 5,405 11,743 28.9 C27 
3rd lamella 5,350 11,196 26.8 C24 
Beam 5 (moisture content: 10.1%; dimensions: 119 x 120 x 2203 mm). 
Beam 5 (MUF 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,445 11,587 28.3 C27 
2nd glue line 5,676 13,038 34.1 C30 
1st lamella 5,457 11,592 28.3 C27 
2nd lamella 5,487 11,851 29.4 C27 
3rd lamella 5,706 13,228 34.8 C30 
Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. 
We need to analyze the results in more detail.
21 
NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS (ULTRASOUNDS): LIGNIN BEAMS
22 
Beam 1 (moisture content: 12.4%; dimensions: 121 x 123 x 2103 mm). 
Beam 1 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave 
speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR 
(N/mm2) 
Classification 
1st glue line 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 
2nd glue line 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 
1st lamella 5,928 15,032 42.0 C40 
2nd lamella 5,691 13,547 36.1 C35 
3rd lamella 5,616 13,078 34.2 C30 
Beam 2 (moisture content: 11.9%; dimensions: 121 x 122 x 2107 mm). 
Beam 2 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave 
speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR 
(N/mm2) 
Classification 
1st glue line 5,737 13,835 37.2 C35 
2nd glue line 5,721 13,739 36.9 C35 
1st lamella 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 
2nd lamella 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 
3rd lamella 5,646 13,265 34.9 C30 
Beam 3 (moisture content: 12.2%; dimensions: 121 x 119 x 2104 mm). 
Beam 3 (lignin 
Wave 
MOE 
MOR 
Classification 
resin) 
speed (m/s) 
(N/mm2) 
(N/mm2) 
1st glue line 6,062 15,876 45.3 C45 
2nd glue line 5,721 13,739 36.9 C35 
1st lamella 6,167 16,534 47.0 C45 
2nd lamella 5,863 14,624 40.4 C40 
3rd lamella 5,752 13,932 37.6 C35
23 
Beam 4 (moisture content: 11.7%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2101 mm). 
Beam 4 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave 
speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR 
(N/mm2) 
Classification 
1st glue line 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 
2nd glue line 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 
1st lamella 5,944 15,136 42.4 C40 
2nd lamella 5,616 13,078 34.2 C30 
3rd lamella 5,721 13,738 36.9 C35 
Beam 5 (moisture content: 8.9%; dimensions: 120 x 121 x 2105 mm). 
Beam 5 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave 
speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR 
(N/mm2) 
Classification 
1st glue line 5,631 12,550 32.1 C30 
2nd glue line 5,668 13,407 35.5 C35 
1st lamella 5,404 11,121 28.5 C27 
2nd lamella 5,722 13,117 34.4 C30 
3rd lamella 5,692 12,926 33.6 C30 
Beam 6 (moisture content: 12.1%; dimensions: 121 x 121 x 2102 mm). 
Beam 6 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave 
speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR 
(N/mm2) 
Classification 
1st glue line 5,445 12,002 30.1 C30 
2nd glue line 5,363 11,487 27.9 C27 
1st lamella 5,376 11,572 28.3 C27 
2nd lamella 5,417 11,828 29.3 C27 
3rd lamella 5,194 10,425 23.7 C20
24 
Beam 7 (moisture content: 11.1%; dimensions: 120 x 123 x 2108 mm). 
Beam 7 (lignin 
resin) 
Wave speed 
(m/s) 
MOE 
(N/mm2) 
MOR (N/mm2) Classification 
1st glue line 5,896 14,624 40.4 C40 
2nd glue line 5,879 14,517 39.9 C35 
1st lamella 5,828 14,201 38.7 C35 
2nd lamella 5,930 14,839 41.2 C40 
3rd lamella 5,651 13,086 34.3 C30 
Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. 
We need to analyze the results in more detail.
DESTRUCTIVE TESTS ACCORDING TO EN 408 
EN 408:2011+A1:2012 Timber structures – Structural timber and glued laminated timber 
– Determination of some physical and mechanical properties specifies test methods for 
determining most of the strength and stiffness properties of structural and glued 
laminated timber. 
25 
Section 10. Determination of global modulus of elasticity in bending 
Section 19. Determination of bending strength
26
27 
Breaking of a commercial MUF beam
28 
Breaking of a commercial MUF beam
29 
Breaking of a PUR beam
30 
Breaking of a PUR beam
31 
Breaking of a lignin beam (separation of the lamellas)
32 
Breaking of a lignin beam (separation of the lamellas)
33 Breaking of a lignin beam (crack)
34 
Breaking of a lignin beam (crack)
35 
22000 
20000 
18000 
16000 
14000 
12000 
10000 
MOE (MPa) 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
MUF 
PUR 
LIGNIN
36 
Average MOE (MPa) 
12285 
15020 
17372 
18000 
17000 
16000 
15000 
14000 
13000 
12000 
11000 
10000 
MUF PUR LIGNIN 
The 
average 
MOE for 
lignin 
beams is 
41,4% 
greater 
than the 
average 
MOE for 
MUF 
beams
37 
75 
70 
65 
60 
55 
50 
45 
40 
35 
MOR (MPa) 
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 
MUF 
PUR 
LIGNIN
38 
50,65 
Average MOR (MPa) 
53,55 
56,72 
58 
57 
56 
55 
54 
53 
52 
51 
50 
49 
48 
47 
MUF PUR LIGNIN 
The 
average 
MOR for 
lignin 
beams is 
12% 
greater 
than the 
average 
MOR for 
MUF 
beams
39 
On-going work and research 
1) Mechanical characterization of small pieces of lignin beams 
2) Analysis of the quality of gluing in broken lignin beams
Thank you very 
much for your 
attention

Interim tests for CELLUWOOD project

  • 1.
    Interim tests forCELLUWOOD materials Project meeting 7-8 July 2014, Valencia (Spain) AIDIMA (Miguel Ángel Abián)
  • 2.
    2 WP 8:ASSESSMENT OF CELLUWOOD MATERIAL
  • 3.
    3 Previously, inWP7 some lignin, PUR and MUF beams where manufactured at TECNIFUSTA for interim testing. Those interim tests led to changes in the formulation of the lignin resin by CHIMAR in order to achieve a satisfactory and effective final resin. In 2014, 20 complete beams (nominal dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2200 mm) were manufactured at TECNIFUSTA in collaboration with CHIMAR and AIDIMA: • 10 beams with their lamellae glued by the final lignin resin developed in the project (CELLUWOOD beams). • 10 beams with their lamellae glued by commercial PUR. All lamellae were made of timber classified as C24. 10 commercial beams (nominal dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2200 mm) made with MUF resin were used in order to compare strength and behaviour with the other 20 beams. The commercial beams are classified as GL24h. All beams were made of Picea abies wood.
  • 4.
    4 Measurement ofthe moisture content of timber Preparation of the lignin resin for its application
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    15 NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS(ULTRASOUNDS): PUR BEAMS
  • 16.
    16 Beam 1(moisture content: 11.2%; dimensions: 120 x 123 x 2201 mm). Beam 1 (PUR resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,619 12,890 33.5 C30 2nd glue line 5,621 12,901 33.6 C30 1st lamella 5,682 13,883 35.1 C35 2nd lamella 5,635 12,988 33.9 C30 3rd lamella 5,513 12,223 30.8 C30 Beam 2 (moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2199 mm). Beam 2 (PUR resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,651 12,879 33.4 C30 2nd glue line 5,862 14,204 38.7 C35 1st lamella 5,604 12,586 32.3 C30 2nd lamella 5,714 13,276 35.0 C35 3rd lamella 5,812 13,889 37.5 C35 Beam 3 (moisture content: 11.1%; dimensions: 119 x 122 x 2202 mm). Beam 3 (PUR resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,913 15,146 42.4 C40 2nd glue line 5,573 13,015 34.0 C30 1st lamella 6,001 15,692 44.6 C40 2nd lamella 5,828 14,615 40.3 C40 3rd lamella 5,528 12,731 32.9 C30
  • 17.
    17 Beam 4(moisture content: 11.4%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2198 mm). Beam 4 (PUR resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,651 13,086 34.3 C30 2nd glue line 5,382 11,401 27.6 C27 1st lamella 5,746 13,686 36.6 C35 2nd lamella 5,483 12,037 30.1 C30 3rd lamella 5,312 10,961 25.8 C24 Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. We need to analyze the results in more detail.
  • 18.
    NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS (ULTRASOUNDS):COMMERCIAL MUF BEAMS 18 GL24
  • 19.
    19 Beam 1(moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2202 mm). Beam 1 (MUF resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,721 13,324 35.2 C35 2nd glue line 5,515 12,028 30.1 C30 1st lamella 5,691 13,133 34.5 C30 2nd lamella 5,487 11,850 29.4 C27 3rd lamella 5,501 11,939 29.7 C27 Beam 2 (moisture content: 10.9%; dimensions: 121 x 120 x 2201 mm). Beam 2 (MUF resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,376 11,365 27.4 C27 2nd glue line 5,602 12,779 33.1 C30 1st lamella 5,350 11,196 26.8 C24 2nd lamella 5,607 12,784 33.2 C30 3rd lamella 5,661 13,151 34.5 C30 Beam 3 (moisture content: 10.3%; dimensions: 122 x 120 x 2198 mm). Beam 3 (MUF resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,602 12,986 33.9 C30 2nd glue line 5,529 12,532 32.1 C30 1st lamella 5,623 12,991 33.9 C30 2nd lamella 5,631 13,171 34.6 C30 3rd lamella 5,404 11,743 28.9 C27
  • 20.
    20 Beam 4(moisture content: 10.4%; dimensions: 120 x 120 x 2201 mm). Beam 4 (MUF resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,431 11,915 29.6 C27 2nd glue line 5,363 11,487 27.9 C27 1st lamella 5,204 10,481 24.1 C24 2nd lamella 5,405 11,743 28.9 C27 3rd lamella 5,350 11,196 26.8 C24 Beam 5 (moisture content: 10.1%; dimensions: 119 x 120 x 2203 mm). Beam 5 (MUF resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,445 11,587 28.3 C27 2nd glue line 5,676 13,038 34.1 C30 1st lamella 5,457 11,592 28.3 C27 2nd lamella 5,487 11,851 29.4 C27 3rd lamella 5,706 13,228 34.8 C30 Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. We need to analyze the results in more detail.
  • 21.
    21 NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTS(ULTRASOUNDS): LIGNIN BEAMS
  • 22.
    22 Beam 1(moisture content: 12.4%; dimensions: 121 x 123 x 2103 mm). Beam 1 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 2nd glue line 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 1st lamella 5,928 15,032 42.0 C40 2nd lamella 5,691 13,547 36.1 C35 3rd lamella 5,616 13,078 34.2 C30 Beam 2 (moisture content: 11.9%; dimensions: 121 x 122 x 2107 mm). Beam 2 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,737 13,835 37.2 C35 2nd glue line 5,721 13,739 36.9 C35 1st lamella 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 2nd lamella 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 3rd lamella 5,646 13,265 34.9 C30 Beam 3 (moisture content: 12.2%; dimensions: 121 x 119 x 2104 mm). Beam 3 (lignin Wave MOE MOR Classification resin) speed (m/s) (N/mm2) (N/mm2) 1st glue line 6,062 15,876 45.3 C45 2nd glue line 5,721 13,739 36.9 C35 1st lamella 6,167 16,534 47.0 C45 2nd lamella 5,863 14,624 40.4 C40 3rd lamella 5,752 13,932 37.6 C35
  • 23.
    23 Beam 4(moisture content: 11.7%; dimensions: 120 x 122 x 2101 mm). Beam 4 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,783 14,127 38.4 C35 2nd glue line 5,661 13,358 35.3 C35 1st lamella 5,944 15,136 42.4 C40 2nd lamella 5,616 13,078 34.2 C30 3rd lamella 5,721 13,738 36.9 C35 Beam 5 (moisture content: 8.9%; dimensions: 120 x 121 x 2105 mm). Beam 5 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,631 12,550 32.1 C30 2nd glue line 5,668 13,407 35.5 C35 1st lamella 5,404 11,121 28.5 C27 2nd lamella 5,722 13,117 34.4 C30 3rd lamella 5,692 12,926 33.6 C30 Beam 6 (moisture content: 12.1%; dimensions: 121 x 121 x 2102 mm). Beam 6 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,445 12,002 30.1 C30 2nd glue line 5,363 11,487 27.9 C27 1st lamella 5,376 11,572 28.3 C27 2nd lamella 5,417 11,828 29.3 C27 3rd lamella 5,194 10,425 23.7 C20
  • 24.
    24 Beam 7(moisture content: 11.1%; dimensions: 120 x 123 x 2108 mm). Beam 7 (lignin resin) Wave speed (m/s) MOE (N/mm2) MOR (N/mm2) Classification 1st glue line 5,896 14,624 40.4 C40 2nd glue line 5,879 14,517 39.9 C35 1st lamella 5,828 14,201 38.7 C35 2nd lamella 5,930 14,839 41.2 C40 3rd lamella 5,651 13,086 34.3 C30 Good results (good quality timber), and good glue lines. We need to analyze the results in more detail.
  • 25.
    DESTRUCTIVE TESTS ACCORDINGTO EN 408 EN 408:2011+A1:2012 Timber structures – Structural timber and glued laminated timber – Determination of some physical and mechanical properties specifies test methods for determining most of the strength and stiffness properties of structural and glued laminated timber. 25 Section 10. Determination of global modulus of elasticity in bending Section 19. Determination of bending strength
  • 26.
  • 27.
    27 Breaking ofa commercial MUF beam
  • 28.
    28 Breaking ofa commercial MUF beam
  • 29.
    29 Breaking ofa PUR beam
  • 30.
    30 Breaking ofa PUR beam
  • 31.
    31 Breaking ofa lignin beam (separation of the lamellas)
  • 32.
    32 Breaking ofa lignin beam (separation of the lamellas)
  • 33.
    33 Breaking ofa lignin beam (crack)
  • 34.
    34 Breaking ofa lignin beam (crack)
  • 35.
    35 22000 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 MOE (MPa) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 MUF PUR LIGNIN
  • 36.
    36 Average MOE(MPa) 12285 15020 17372 18000 17000 16000 15000 14000 13000 12000 11000 10000 MUF PUR LIGNIN The average MOE for lignin beams is 41,4% greater than the average MOE for MUF beams
  • 37.
    37 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 MOR (MPa) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 MUF PUR LIGNIN
  • 38.
    38 50,65 AverageMOR (MPa) 53,55 56,72 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 MUF PUR LIGNIN The average MOR for lignin beams is 12% greater than the average MOR for MUF beams
  • 39.
    39 On-going workand research 1) Mechanical characterization of small pieces of lignin beams 2) Analysis of the quality of gluing in broken lignin beams
  • 40.
    Thank you very much for your attention