Didik Supriyadi, Damayanti Damayanti, Stefan Veigel, Christian Hansmann, Wolfgang Gindl-Altmutter
The harvest of trees typically results in the availability of bark biomass as raw material. In 2021, it is estimated that the wood processing sector produced approximately 200 million cubic meters of bark. Despite being commonly regarded as waste or a low-value by-product, this sustainable raw material possesses appealing properties because of its intricate chemistry and structure, which serve as a multifunctional barrier for living trees. Consequently, the majority of studies on the utilization of bark have focused on the extraction of valuable chemical compounds and bioactive agents. A biorefinery approach for bark was proposed to improve the efficiency and economic feasibility of bark utilization. However, relatively few studies have been dedicated to the exploration and enhancement of bark-based products, particularly structural materials. Therefore, this review aims to describe the potential applications that exploit the chemical and physical properties of bark, with an emphasis on structural materials. A brief overview of the structure and chemistry of tree bark is provided, followed by an examination of physical characteristics such as density, mechanics, thermal properties, and caloric value. Finally, the potential applications of bark biomass as a structural material are discussed. © 2025 The Authors
Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, Department of Material Sciences and Process Engineering, BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 24, Tulln, 3430, Austria; Department of Chemical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jl. Terusan Ryacudu, Way Huwi, Kec. Jati Agung, Lampung Selatan, 35365, Indonesia; Wood K plus – Competence Centre for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry, Konrad- Lorenz-Straße 24, Tulln a.d. Donau, A-3430, Austria
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