Braiding of Wooden Veneer Strips - Correlation of Process Parameters and Laminate Properties

Wood has excellent specific mechanical properties, making it an environmentally friendly alternative for composite reinforcements as a renewable resource. Although typically used to create flat structures, the versatile material still offers significant potential for improvement in the production of hollow profiles. To overcome this limitation, new manufacturing methods are needed. Therefore, the braiding technology of wooden veneer strips offers a novel approach to produce hollow profile structures. In a previous publication, the adaptation of braiding technology for veneer strips was presented [1]. However, it has been shown that the material is sensitive to fluctuating process variables. Defects, such as twists and ruptures, are common occurrences during braiding. The effects of defects as well as their influence on composite properties are discussed within this paper. In order to increase process stability and optimize processability for different braid angles, various parameters such as bobbin spring load or material moisture are being investigated.