Adding value to hardwoods – thin hardwood cross-laminated timber (HCLT)

Maximizing the value of underutilized hardwood species is vital for sustainable forestry and economic development in North America’s hardwood regions. This reseach studied the feasibility and performance of thin hardwood cross-laminated timber (HCLT) panels made from yellow-poplar (YP) and black walnut (BW). Third-point bending tests revealed that thin HCLT panels outperformed traditional panel products and were comparable to structural timber products. YP HCLT with 19 mm lamellae achieved the highest average modulus of rupture (MOR) of 77 MPa, while BW with lamellae of 13 mm had the best individual performance as 97 MPa. The use of thin HCLT panels was showcased by an extendable coffee table, and potential applications were proposed as biophilic and aesthetic wall-filling alternative to gypsum boards. These findings highlight thin HCLT as a sustainable, high-performance solution for U.S. hardwoods, with opportunities for future development in interior applications.