In the year 2001, Prof. Dr. Ursula Kües was appointed at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology of the Georg-August-University Göttingen to the chair Molecular Wood Biotechnology endowed by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU). Her group studies higher fungi in basic and applied research. Research foci are on mushroom development and on fungal enzymes degrading wood and their applications in wood biotechnology. This book has been edited to thank the DBU for all support given to the chair Molecular Wood Biotechnology. Contributions to the book are from scientists from Göttingen recognised in different fields of forestry and wood science. Chapters presented by members of the group Molecular Wood Biotechnology introduces into their areas of research. The book is designed for interested students of wood biology and wood technology but will also address scientists in the field.

In the year 2008 the research activities in the project Deutsch-Arabisch/Iranischer Hochschuldialogʺ between the Research Institute for Forests and Rangelands, Teheran and the University of Göttingen were successfully continued. The project was financed by the Department of Foreign Affairs in the context of the Europäisch/Islamischen Kulturdialog (EIK) supervised by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Now, like in the two years before, the present book gives again an overview of the common research themes in which the Iranian and German young scientists and senior scientists of both countries works are summarised. The themes cover a wide variety in the research fields of forestry, mircobiology, forest zoology, wood science and wood biotechnology.

New and Future Developments in Microbial Biotechnology and Bioengineering: Recent Developments in Trichoderma Research covers topics on-Trichoderma biodiversity, strain improvement and related researches in bioprocess technology, chemical engineering, bioremediation process, secondary metabolite production, Protein production, plant disease resistance and biocontrol technology. This book includes unique compilations of different chapters with emerging issues in the area of Trichoderma research and its related importance in the Biochemical-Industry-Agri-Food sector. Includes recent developments on Trichoderma research in plant biotechnology, agriculture and in the environment Provides a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the biodiversity and biochemistry of Trichoderma Covers potential applications of Trichoderma in biotechnology, including secondary metabolites and protein engineering

This book provides an overview of eco-friendly resins and their composite materials covering their synthesis, sources, structures and properties for different industrial applications to support the ongoing research and development in eco-friendly and renewable commercial products. It provides comparative discussions on the properties of eco-friendly resins with other polymer composites. It is a useful reference on bio-based eco-friendly polymer resins, wood-based composites, natural fibers and biomass materials for the polymer scientists, engineers and material scientists.

The market for durable products using modified wood has increased substantially during the last few years. This is partly because of the restriction on the use of toxic preservatives due to environmental concerns, and to lower maintenance cost and time. Furthermore, as sustainability becomes a greater concern, the environmental impact of construction and interior materials is factored in planning by considering the whole life cycle and embodied energy of the materials used. Wood is modified to improve its intrinsic properties, enhance the range of applications of timber, and to acquire the form and functionality desired by engineers without calling the environmental friendliness into question. Wood modification processes are at various stages of development, and the challenges faced in scaling up to industrial applications differ. The aim of this book is to put together the key elements of the changes of wood constituents and the related changes in wood properties of modified wood. Further, a selection of the principal technologies implemented in wood modification are presented. This work is intended for researchers, professionals of timber construction, as well as students studying the science of materials, civil engineering and architecture. This work is not exhaustive, but intends to deliver an outline of the scientific disciplines necessary to apprehend the technologies of wood modification and its behavior during treatment, as well as during its use.

Wood Deterioration, Protection and Maintenance provides an up to date discussion of the natural durability of wood, wood degradation processes, and methods of structural and chemical protection of wood. Modern active substances in wood preservatives and the relationships between preservative properties, the anatomical structure and moisture content of wood and protective processes involving pressure and/or diffusion driving forces are fully illustrated.

Handbook of Modern Coating Technologies: Application and Development reviews recent applications and developments of modern coating technologies. The topics in this volume consist of role of antibacterial coatings in the development of biomaterials, insights of technologies for self-healing organic coatings, sensor applications, application of carbon nanotubes–based coating in the field of art conservation, oxide-based self-cleaning and corrosion-protective coatings, protective coatings for wood, applications of optical coatings on spectral selective structures, application of natural antimicrobial coating for controlling foodborne pathogens on meat and fresh produce, efficacy of antimicrobial coating in reducing pathogens on meat, composite membrane: fabrication, characterization, and applications, development of nanostructured HVOF coatings on high strength steel components for turbine blades, nanoscale multilayered composite coating, applications of sol–gel coatings, application of graphene in protective coating industry, application of coatings in outdoor high-voltage installations, defects and doping effects in thin films of transparent and conductive oxides, and functional coatings for lab-on-a-chip systems based on phospholipid polymers.