Paulownia (Paulownia elongata S.Y.Hu)–importance for forestry and a general screening of technological and material properties

Abstract

In Austria, paulownia (Paulownia spp.) has not been approved as a forest species. Because of the enormous annual growth and the promising mechanical and physical properties of this tree species, it is grown in short-rotation and value timber plantations in Central Europe. Previous studies have addressed the forestry and silvicultural aspects of different plant materials and issues in wood technology and wood physics based on small sample collections. Broad material screening for the technological evaluation of paulownia, samples obtained in large quantities from plantations, has not been conducted thus far. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a general overview of the technological, physical and mechanical properties of this wood species, in addition to basic forestry considerations. The wood samples for the experiments were obtained from an Austrian experimental plantation. In addition to wood drying, natural durability, workability and gluing, density and swelling/shrinking behaviour were investigated, and a comprehensive characterisation of all strength and stiffness properties was performed. The results will enable the modelling of paulownia wood to determine its static and dynamic loads, as well as the crash behaviour, using the finite element method (FEM) and well-founded assessments of the material’s workability.