Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has been widely discussed as a relevant industrialized construction solution. Numerous publications have considered CLT as a structural wood-based panel, but other documents have mentioned it as a building or even a construction system. Many authors address its application in multistory buildings, although single-family houses and lower building applications have become desirable topics as well. Given these gaps, this review study addresses a systematic method to evince the functions of cross-laminated timber in construction. The elucidation and discussion were led by technical and scientific contents through publications present in scientific websites and the Google web search engine. Intricate perceptions about the knowledge and reference of CLT functions were identified. From prospections, it was possible to state that CLT is a timber-forest product created in Europe, whose function acts as a structural composite panel of the engineered wood product category. However, CLT has been mentioned by many publications as a building or a construction system. Suggestions were raised to clarify to all readers with respect to misconceptions, and elucidate the construction systems capable of using it as the main resource. Discussions evinced the characteristics and potentials of this wood product. Even with its increasing application in tall buildings, the commercial application of CLT in low-rise buildings may be boosted by the possibility of large-scale production of industrialized houses.

This paper presents a survey of the state of the art of microwave (MW) treatment of wood, informed by both past and recent research papers. It begins by introducing the main concepts regarding MW technology and its advantages, presenting a holistic perspective of this technology, and identifying 57 research papers published over the last 25 years. Next, an extensive literature review of the most significant experimental research papers is provided, divided into two MW heating treatment uses: wood drying and permeability improvement. For each study, the wood species, MW parameters, main objectives, and overall conclusions are provided. In this context, an explanation is given on how parameters such as MW power, frequency, intensity, and exposure time, as well as initial moisture content, influence the degree of wood modification. Next, a global overview of the most used wood species, genera, and dimensions is revealed. The paper concludes by indicating the potential fields of future research studies concerning the uses and applications of MW treatment technology.

Recently, both authors led a comprehensive review to discuss cross-laminated timber (CLT) as an engineered wood product, addressing the information and discussion on this building input in terms of the main details, materials, production forms, performances, codes, sustainability, applications, and perspectives for residential uses. The current scenario of CLT developers was raised in that previous paper as one of the missing factors in the available literature, and was the reason why this gap became the main goal of the present study. A global perspective was driven to provide information and discussion to every possible stakeholder. A systematic review on this sector was carried out, through the Web of Science and Scopus databases, to collect information and confirm this gap, using a representative method. CLT manufacturers were identified by their own websites, using a blended strategy formed by the systematic review results combined with the search for these companies using the Google search engine. Nearly a hundred CLT developers were identified and analyzed, in a representative sampling process. Results demonstrated that the CLT industry has manufacturing plants on the five habitable continents, which evinced a global commercial interest in this timber forest product. Despite the global presence of this mass timber product, most producers are concentrated in the northern hemisphere, despite being willing to serve international markets.

This research identified the central hindrances found in Brazilian wooden housing scenario in the fields of finished product, producer, and sector. Thus, a questionnaire with three qualitative questions based on multiple-choice answers allowed investigating the difficulties faced by these producers in Brazil. This sector still faces obstacles in the three observed fields, especially for the negative aspects of house financing, housing technique certification, skilled hand labour, general costs incurred in local production, tax exemptions, public policies, utilization of wooden houses in public works, and other factors. These obstacles in wooden housing sector have created limitations of production potential and restrictions of its market. A current panorama from these obstacles was formed, which could contribute with sectoral development. Actions such as creation and institution of incentives and specific policies should consolidate as the main direction to reduce these difficulties faced by the wooden housing producers.

Using Kraft lignin, bio-based adhesives have been increasingly studied to replace those petrochemical-based solutions, due to low cost, easy availability and the potential for biodegradability of this biomaterial. In this study, lignin-based phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) resins were synthesized using commercial Eucalypt Kraft Lignin (EKL), purified at 95%, as a phenol substitute in different proportions of 10%, 20%, 30% and 50%. The properties of bio-based phenol formaldehyde (BPF) synthesized resin were compared with phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF) used for control sampling. The results indicated that viscosity, gel time and solid contents increased with the addition of pure EKL. The shear strength test of glue line was studied according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and BPF-based results were superior to samples bonded with the PF as a control sample, being suitable for structural purposes. Changes in the curing behavior of different resins were analyzed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and sample comparison indicated that the curing of the LPF resin occurred at lower temperatures than the PF. The addition of EKL in PF reduced its thermal stability compared to traditional resin formulation, resulting in a lower decomposition temperature and a smaller amount of carbonaceous residues.

Wood is a material that for years has been used by man for a variety of purposes, particularly in rural and civil constructions. For the possibility of shortages of some wood species, the characterization of other little known species as alternatives is necessary. This research aimed to determine, with the aid of the Brazilian standard NBR 7190, physical and mechanical properties of Cambará rosa or Cedrinho wood (Erisma uncinatum Warm), and with the support of regression models (linear, exponential, geometric, logarithmic) based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), to estimate the values of strength and stiffness as a function of apparent density, for the density being a property of easy determination. Were obtained 12 determinations by physical and mechanical propertie, resulting in 204 experimental results. The mechanical properties of Erisma uncinatum Warm presented performance compatible with other species used in civil construction, but not being considered a high strength wood. By means of regression models to estimate the strength and stiffness values, it was found that no property can be estimated by the apparent density.