Physical, Mechanical and Biological Tests on Solid Wood and Bio-Composites with BioPCM and Thermal Characteristics of Small-Scale Models

The research M-ERA Net project BIO-NRG-STORE is a collaboration of three universities and one research institute from Austria, Sweden, Turkey and Italy. The study includes physical-mechanical and biological tests on solid wood and wood composites, both impregnated with bioPCM (bio-based phase change material). BioPCM were used to impregnate solid wood or composite panel’s raw material (wood particles). In addition, the biological resistance of the bioPCM-wood composites to decay fungi and termites was tested. The resistance to fungal attack, expressed in mass loss, was only high for the bio-composite containing ethyl palmitate ester. However, the used wood particles and bioPCM composite were resistant to termite attack. The results of the physical tests showed that the wood composites containing ethyl palmitate ester had a higher vapour permeability than similar products available on the market, while the other (the wood composite impregnated with capric acid) had a lower permeability. Wood composites with bioPCM can exhibit mechanical properties comparable to those of other commercial wood-based materials. Small wood building models were build using bioPCM inner envelope panels (flooring and wallboards). The results of the ongoing field test show significant saving of thermal energy by the materials with incorporated bioPCM.