Brno – Boards for furniture production made of technical hemp are much stronger than classic chipboards. This was discovered by scientists from the Institute of Design and Furniture and the Faculty of Forestry and Woodworking of the Mendel University in Brno. In addition, technical hemp grows faster than wood, does not need technical treatment and only part of the plant is used. Experts are also testing the use of other alternative materials for the production of furniture, the university informed in a press release.
“One hectare of hemp absorbs four times more CO2 compared to wood, it grows four times more mass on one hectare. The time it takes for hemp to grow can be 80 days, while for wood we are talking about 40 to 120 years. In addition, it is a resistant plant, which does not need pesticides or herbicides,” said the head of the institute, Milan Gaff.
Technical hemp is grown for its seeds, during harvesting a maximum of the upper meter of the plant, which grows to a height of two to three meters, is used. The rest after harvesting is used for the production of boards.
“Hemp stems are dried, impregnated with soy starch, pressed and baked, or even impregnated with oil. We develop three types of boards from hemp and other alternative materials: chipboard from a small fraction under five millimeters, another from a fraction under eight centimeters or from whole stems. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, but compared to classic chipboard, these are much stronger, suitable for construction purposes and for furniture,” he added Gaff.
Scientists are also testing the production of furniture from other materials, for example from corn, sunflower, rapeseed or flax. Of the materials commonly available in the Czech Republic, hemp has the best properties. “Hemp is one of the materials of the future and one of the few paths we have to meet increasing demand. Most of the furniture produced today is second or third generation recycled material with decorative material glued to the surface. However, sustainability is limited, with repeated recycling, the mechanical properties and density of the material deteriorate, as petroleum products and adhesives are part of the product,” stated the head of the institute.
CR wood science school furniture university
Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz
