The modification of wood and its surface is one of the challenges that is being perfected with the aim of transitioning to sustainable management. This study investigated the dynamic mechanical and thermal behaviour of unmodified and styrene modified fir wood (Abies alba Mill.). Styrene monomer was chosen and impregnated into the porous structure of fir wood by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were employed to characterise the chemical structure, viscoelastic properties, and thermal stability of unmodified and modified (surface-modified) wood. All tests have to be regarded as being preliminary due to the small number of specimens. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed evidence of the phenyl group from styrene at 700 cm⁻¹. DMA results showed that the modified wood caused an increase in the glass transition temperature relative to the unmodified wood. In addition, modification with styrene improves thermal stability, as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

This study investigated the variations in tracheid length of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco from three sites in Croatia in relation to cambium age, within- and between-site differences, and growth rate. Tracheids are the main structural element in P. menziesii wood, varying in length following different patterns that should be precisely determined. After the maceration procedure, earlywood tracheid length (EWTL), latewood tracheid length (LWTL), annual growth ring tracheid length (RTL), earlywood ring width (EWW), latewood ring width (LWW), and annual ring width (ARW) were measured in selected annual growth rings. The significant effect of annual growth rings and zone interaction for EWTL and LWTL, as well as of annual growth rings, trees, and sites for RTL, was determined. The results conclude on the differences between the trends in EWTL and LWTL from pith toward the bark. In addition, the correlation analysis between the tracheid length and different growth patterns was investigated, and very weak or no association between the variables was detected. This research contributes to better understanding the degree of wood uniformity of P. menziesii from the technological perspective, as well as the variability factor in the optimization of forest management with favoring overall wood quality.

The aim of this research is to measure the energy consumption and compare the cutting performance of three types of battery-powered chainsaws (Stihl MSA 200, Stihl MSA 220, and Stihl MSA 300). Tested chainsaws were powered by two different battery packs (Stihl AP 300 S and Stihl AP 500 S) with different energy capacity and output current when cutting two wooden beams, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) with different densities and moisture content. Energy consumption was measured using a multimeter built-in battery charger housing, and consumed energy was noted in watt-hours. Each individual cut was recorded with an action camera at 60 frames per second, and the duration of the cuts recorded in centiseconds was observed on the obtained recordings. Results show significant differences in energy consumption and cutting duration between individual chainsaw/battery combinations. Energy consumption ranged from 2.45 to 4.50 Wh per cut for beech (Stihl MSA300E_AP500S and Stihl MSA220_AP300S, respectively) and from 3.10 to 5.00 Wh per cut for black locust (Stihl MSA300M_AP500S and Stihl MSA220_AP500S, respectively). Duration of the cut ranged from 3.48 to 9.24 s per cut for beech (Stihl MSA300M/H_AP500S and Stihl MSA220_AP300S, respectively) and from 3.74 to 9.35 s per cut for the black locust (Stihl MSA300M_AP500S and Stihl MSA220_AP300S, respectively). In general, it can be concluded that more powerful chainsaw/battery combinations (Stihl MSA300_AP500S) consumed less energy per cut and had better cutting performance (shorter cut). In that regard, more powerful chainsaws had greater cutting efficiency, i.e., more cuts on one charge (battery) but shorter cutting time on one charge. The effect of tree species (fresh-sawed beech/air-dried black locust) on energy consumption and cutting performance is absent on the most powerful chainsaw/battery combinations. Today, lithium-ion batteries still have 70 times less energy density than petrol. However, if there is a significant increase in the energy density of the batteries in the coming times, battery chainsaws will most certainly displace petrol chainsaws from use in the future.

The world’s expanding population presents a challenge through its rising demand for wood products. This requirement contributes to increased production and, ultimately, the high-quality and efficient utilization of basic materials. Detecting defects in wood elements, which are inevitable when working with a natural material such as wood, is one of the difficulties associated with the issue above. Even in modern times, people still identify wood defects by visually scrutinizing the sawn surface and marking the defects. Industrial scanners equipped with software based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) allow for the rapid detection of defects and have the potential to accelerate production and eradicate human subjectivity. This paper evaluates the suitability of defect recognition software in industrial scanners against software specifically designed for this task within a research project conducted using Adaptive Vision Studio, focusing on feature detection techniques. The research revealed that the software installed as part of the industrial scanner is more effective for analyzing knots (77.78% vs. 70.37%), sapwood (100% vs. 80%), and ambrosia wood (60% vs. 20%), while the software derived from the project is more effective for analyzing cracks (70% vs. 65%), ingrown bark (42.86% vs. 28.57%), and wood rays (81.82% vs. 27.27%).