As an integral part of the FPL mission, we improve the long-term sustainability of our Nation's forests by creating valuable composite products from biobased materials. Composites encourage the use of undervalued materials and improve the economics of forest restoration projects because they can be made from a variety of materials: fiber, particles, or flakes from small trees, especially those from invasive species and overgrown forests at risk of wildfire; post-industrial and post-consumer wood wastes; and other natural biofibers, such as wheat straw, corn straw, and even chicken feathers. ..more »
The FPL has been in the forefront of wood-frame housing research since 1910 and has long been recognized as a world leader in such housing-related areas as engineered wood products and structures, moisture control, material design and performance, coatings and finishes, adhesives, wood preservation, and composites. Many of the materials and technologies currently used in wood-frame housing were developed through basic research at FPL in cooperation with industry, academia, and government. ..more »
We all know the compelling reasons that the United States needs to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Historically, the greatest increases in energy demand have been for transportation fuels, and known fossil fuel reserves are declining. ..more »
A leader in wood products research for over a century, the FPL is positioning itself to become the lead Federal research facility for the application of nanotechnology in forest products. Using structural, chemical, and mechanical evaluation techniques, interdisciplinary teams of scientists continue to expand FPL's nanotechnology research program. Nanotechnology is a multi-disciplinary field of applied science and technology. Its theme is the understanding and engineering of matter on the atomic and molecular scales... more »
Forests in the United States contain a substantial amount of small-diameter, overstocked, and underutilized material.FPL research projects are exploring the potential of the small-diameter roundwood as a structural material for uses such as bridges, boardwalks, trail structures, picnic shelters, storage sheds, and other rustic-type buildings. Other FPL research is finding other innovative ways to use underutilized woody biomass. ..more »