Wood-Alejandro⚽

🌲 1. INTRODUCTION

What is wood?

Wood is a natural material obtained from tree trunks and branches. It's composed of cellulose fibers that give it strength and flexibility. One of the oldest materials used by humans.

✓ Renewable

✓ Resistant

✓ Easy to work

✓ Ecological

Historical importance

Since Prehistory, humans have used wood for shelters, tools and fire. Early civilizations built ships, temples and palaces. In Middle Ages, essential for cathedrals, mills and houses.

Current importance

Today, wood remains indispensable in construction, furniture, paper, energy and art.

💡 Fact: Wood is the only renewable construction material. Trees absorb CO₂, helping combat climate change.

⚙️ 2. PROPERTIES

Physical Properties

Property	Description
Density	Hardwoods (oak) 0.7–1.0 g/cm³, softwoods (pine) 0.4–0.6 g/cm³
Moisture	Optimal 12–15%. Excess causes swelling, drying causes cracks
Color & Grain	Each wood has unique color by fiber distribution
Conductivity	Poor heat/electricity conductor (insulation)

Chemical Properties

Composition: Cellulose (40–50%), lignin (20–30%), hemicellulose (15–25%)
Combustion: Combustible, burns producing heat
Decay: Fungi and insects decompose in humid environments

Mechanical Properties

Resistance: Withstands tensile/compressive forces along grain
Elasticity: Bends and returns to shape
Hardness: Oak harder than pine
Toughness: Absorbs energy before breaking

🏭 3. OBTAINING

Extraction

Felling selected trees
Delimbing (branch removal)
Cross-cutting (sectioning)
Transport to sawmill

Manufacturing

Debarking (bark removal)
Sawing (cutting into planks)
Drying (moisture removal)
Planing (surface smoothing)

Transformation

Solid Wood: Planks for construction
Plywood: Glued layers
Chipboard: Pressed shavings
Paper: Shredded wood into pulp

💡 Important: Use FSC or PEFC certified wood from sustainable forests.

🌐 4. CURRENT USES

Construction

Structures (beams, trusses), cladding (parquet, façades), carpentry (doors, windows). Ex: Nordic prefab houses.

Furniture

Home (tables, chairs, beds), office (desks), decoration (frames, mirrors).

Paper & Packaging

40%+ of wood → paper (books, notebooks), cardboard (boxes), packaging (bags, tetra packs).

Energy

Firewood and pellets (heating), biomass plants (electricity).

Others

Musical instruments (guitars), toys, kitchen utensils (boards), sports (skateboards).

♻️ 5. SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Impact

✅ POSITIVE

Absorbs CO₂
Renewable resource
Biodegradable

⚠️ NEGATIVE

Illegal deforestation
Soil erosion
Toxic treatments

Recycling

Direct reuse (restored furniture)
Shredding for chipboard
Recycled paper (up to 7 times)
Biomass for energy

💡 Recycling 1 tonne paper = 17 trees + 26,000L water saved.

Circular Economy

Sustainable extraction + replanting
Efficient manufacturing (total use)
Durable, repairable products
Recycling → new products or energy

Certifications

FSC: Responsibly managed forests
PEFC: Certified sustainable management

🎭 DIALOGUE (4-5 min)

CHARACTERS: Carlos (student), Alejandro (researcher), Teacher

CARLOS: Alejandro, explain about wood?

ALEJANDRO: Sure. Natural material from tree trunks, made of cellulose fibers giving strength.

CARLOS: Since when used?

ALEJANDRO: Since Prehistory for shelters, tools, fire. Civilizations used for ships, temples, palaces.

TEACHER: Properties?

ALEJANDRO: Physical (density, moisture, color), Chemical (composition, combustion, decay), Mechanical (resistance, elasticity, hardness).

CARLOS: How obtained?

ALEJANDRO: Trees felled, delimbed, cross-cut, transported to sawmill. There debarked, sawn, dried, planed.

TEACHER: Uses?

ALEJANDRO: Construction (beams), furniture, paper (40%+), energy (biomass), instruments, toys...

CARLOS: Pollute?

ALEJANDRO: Positive impacts (absorbs CO₂, renewable, biodegradable) and negative (deforestation, erosion). But 100% recyclable.

TEACHER: Recycling?

ALEJANDRO: Direct reuse, shredding for chipboard, recycled paper (7x), biomass. 1 tonne paper = 17 trees saved.

CARLOS: Circular economy?

ALEJANDRO: Extract from sustainable forests, use efficiently, design durable, recycle at end. FSC/PEFC certify responsible management.

TEACHER: Excellent.

END

🎯 CONCLUSION

Wood has been fundamental for humanity since Prehistory. Its unique properties (renewable, resistant, versatile, biodegradable) make it sustainable vs plastic/steel.

We must manage forests responsibly: replant, recycle, choose FSC/PEFC products.

"The forest is a living system that sustains Earth" 🌲⚽

🌲 WOOD ⚽