Preliminary Experimental Evaluation of Molded Wood-Particle/Epoxy Composite for Future Additive-Manufacturing Applications in Timber Construction

Additive manufacturing offers promising opportunities for producing customized construction components with complex geometries and reduced material waste. However, the development of wood-based composites suitable for future additive-manufacturing applications remains limited. This preliminary experimental study evaluates the compressive behavior of molded wood-particle/epoxy composite intended for further investigation in timber construction and three-dimensional printing. The composite consisted of plane tree (Platanus) wood particles, chopped strand mat fibers, and two epoxy resin hardener systems. Six solid-wood reference cubes and four molded composite cubes, each measuring mm, were prepared and subjected to axial compression. Three solid-wood specimens were tested parallel to the grain and three perpendicular to the grain. Two composite specimens were manufactured using Type epoxy system, while two others were produced using Type epoxy system containing fumed silica. The solid wood exhibited an average compressive strength of MPa parallel to the grain and MPa perpendicular to the grain. The Type composite specimens achieved an average compressive strength of MPa and showed substantial axial deformation. In comparison, the Type composite specimens reached an average compressive strength of MPa, representing an increase of approximately relative to the Type formulation. The improved performance of the Type formulation may be associated with the lower elongation and higher compressive resistance of the epoxy system, together with the possible influence of fumed silica. Nevertheless, these effects could not be evaluated independently because the two formulations differed in both binder characteristics and silica content. The results demonstrate the preliminary mechanical feasibility of producing wood-particle composite with meaningful compressive resistance. However, the specimens were molded rather than manufactured through layer-by-layer deposition. Therefore, the present study does not validate printability, extrusion behavior, interlayer bonding, or structural suitability. Further research should include larger sample sizes, complete mixture characterization, standardized mechanical testing, rheological assessment, extrusion trials, interlayer testing, and durability evaluation.