Göttingen 20.09.2021

University of Göttingen and Archroma develop new method for treating wood

MBM Science Bridge GmbH successfully negotiated an agreement comprising the licensing of a novel technology for wood modification, which enables the transfer of this inventive technology from basic science into industry.

Wood scientists at the University of Göttingen, together with the Swiss company Archroma, a global specialty chemicals company, have developed a new method for turning affordable and ecologically friendly wood from European forests into high-quality, fire-resistant construction timber. Until now, European softwood and hardwood could either be structurally modified to have physical and biological properties similar to tropical hardwood, or it could be treated with chemicals to become fire resistant, where the chemicals would leach out of the wood by contact with water or weather. The structurally modified wood in most cases cannot be used in construction as a structural or cladding element due to strict fire safety regulations, and the hardwood is not suitable for outdoor use. This situation looks set to change thanks to this new method which will, in the future, be exclusively marketed worldwide by Archroma.