207-311 Forest Products

207-270 Wood Science.

On completion of this subject, students should:

• be able to write a technical report which meets a minimum standard in terms of presentation and content;

• understand the basic principles, mechanisms, industry structure and issues involved in timber gluing, wood preservation, timber drying, and chemical modification of wood; understand the sawmilling process, types of products produced and timber grading; and

• describe the basic manufacturing steps and industry structure for solid and composite wood products and pulp and paper products; analyse, synthesise and evaluate information concerning wood and fibre properties, product properties, process and technology limitations, and basic market forces with regard to the use of forests for timber utilisation.

Content includes:

• wood adhesives, drying and preservation;

• sawmilling, timber grading, further processing and value-adding; and

• raw material requirements, properties and markets, and production of solid and composite wood products, pulp and paper and alternative forest products.

One three-hour written examination (50%), a practical test (10%) and two assignments equivalent to 2500 words (each worth 20%).