The utilization of natural raw materials has been practiced for centuries. Of raw materials, wood and its bark have outstanding significance because of their special chemical components and unusual structure. Annual bark production is estimated to be between 300 and 400 million m3. The bark of different tree species has been used extensively in or in conjunction with modern technologies. This article presents a comprehensive summary of these methods of utilization and their results. The diversity of bark utilization derives from the variety of the bark of different species and from the possibilities encoded in the material. Following the anatomic summary, the protective role of the bark is discussed, highlighting its physical-chemical properties and the different methods of medical, energetic, and industrial utilization.

The lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses in wood are polymers that behave similarly to the artificial polymers and are bonded together in wood. Lignin differs from the other two substances by its highly branched, amorphous, three-dimensional structure. Under appropriate conditions, the moist lignin incorporated in the wood softens at about 100 °C and allows the molecules of it to deform in the cell walls. There are many advantages and disadvantages to this phenomenon. If we know this process accurately and the industrial areas where it matters, we may be able to improve these industrial processes. This article provides a brief theoretical summary of lignin softening and the woodworking processes where it plays a role: wood welding, pellet manufacturing, manufacturing binderless boards, solid wood bending, veneer manufacturing, and solid wood surface densification.

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