An Ecological Product: Wood Sandwich Panel

Abstract

In this study, wood sandwich panels (WSP) are investigated and reviewed in term of its advantages, weaknesses and usage areas. WSP composite was manufactured to meet humanity's increasing need for wood in the last century. The rapid increase in human population has led to an increase in the amount of consumption. Increasing consumption habits have put pressure on the world ecology. Especially forests are insufficient to meet the increasing need for wood. In order to reduce the pressure on forests, industrial plantations have begun to be built with fast-growing tree species. But this method is insufficient. Wood preservation technologies have been developed to protect existing wood materials. Efforts are being made to extend the life of wood and reduce the pressure on forests through methods such as heat treatment, impregnation and acetylation. All these methods are inadequate in the face of humankind's increasing consumption approach. For this reason, researchers are working on new materials that can replace wood. WSPs have begun to be produced by using thin wood veneer in the surface layer and light, cheap and abundant polymers in the core layer. WSPs can be produced specifically for use as lightweight, fire-resistant or for insulation purposes. In this study, the usage areas of WSPs and the latest research are compiled. Studies on WSPs will directly help protect forests and indirectly preserve ecological balance. More research should be done on WSPs.