BBE 1002 Wood and Fiber Science (3
credits)
Catalog Description: |
Familiarize students with the fundamental primary raw
materials, conversion technologies, applications, and performance
of Bio-based products
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Prerequisites: |
None
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Class/Laboratory Schedule: |
Three lectures and one laboratory per week
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Location: |
Kaufert Lab, room 302
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Instructors: |
William Tze
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Text: |
Bowyer, et al. 2003. Forest Products and wood Science,
an Introduction, 4th ed. ISU Press, a Blackwell publishing
company
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Grading: |
Student Performance Assessment:
Exams, quizzes, problem sets.
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Detailed Description:
Nature of Course:
This course examines the nature and utility of wood, the primary
non-food bio-based material used in the world today. Beginning
with a brief look at bio-materials and bio-products in general,
the process of plant growth is then examined to provide a cursory
understanding of the process of cell formation, cell structure,
and the chemical composition of plant materials. The focus of the
course then turns to wood, with the first one-third of the course
dedicated to a study of the anatomical structure and chemical nature
of wood and the influence of growing conditions on wood characteristics.
The next one-third of the course considers wood's physical properties
and the relationship of properties to the macro and micro structure
of wood. An examination of the principal products made of wood,
and of the potential for substituting non-woody materials for wood,
concludes the course.
Individuals for Whom the Course is Intended:
- Those preparing for careers in the bio-based products industry
take this course:
- as an introduction to the field to provide them an information
base for further courses they will take in the bio-products
field.
- to gain a better understanding of wood as a bio-material,
the principal products of the wood based industries of
North America and globally, the forms of raw materials
used by these industries, and the nature and properties
of wood which affect how and what kind of wood materials
can be utilized.
- Those majoring in forestry take this course to better understand
how the practice of forestry can affect the quality of wood produced,
how wood is used, how logs and various wood products are measured
following harvest, and how wood quality requirements of various
segments of the wood products manufacturing industry differ.
- Those not involved in the forestry or bio-products professions
who are interested in learning more about wood as a construction
and general use material.
Objectives of the Course:
There are three general objectives of the course:
- To develop a general understanding of biomaterials and current
bio-based products and the nature of emerging technologies for
converting biomaterials to useful products.
- To provide students with an understanding of the physical
nature of wood and how this physical nature affects both the
type of products which can be made from wood and the properties
of these products. Unless the student has a firm understanding
of what wood is and how it varies between and within species,
problems which arise in its utilization cannot be fully appreciated.
Foresters are very often involved directly in these problems
of utilization.
- To provide students with an understanding of the industries
which depend upon wood for their raw materials, the type and
quality of wood required by these industries, and the method
of measuring and evaluating various types of wood raw materials.
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