Classification and analysis method development in order to predict wood coating quality and appearence, and industrial prototype – OPTIFIN

Wood is a natural material whose rendering is enjoyed in many applications (flooring, furniture, panels layout, etc..). However, its heterogeneity and variability of surface make it difficult to control harmony looking and quality. This quality and harmony looking are mostly looked through a finish applied on wood (varnish, paint, etc.). The finish quality result and its harmony looking is affected by both wood surface and finish. Physical texture, acidity, presence of molecules that can migrate or react with finish are potentially impacting factors.
These technical difficulties related to heterogeneity and variability of wood surfaces generate significant non-quality costs and manual sorting in wood industries. Current industrial technical solutions are confined to detect only fex singularities, such as knots and perform classification based on fuzzy logic. Some singularities of the wood as sapwood is not always detectable to the eye while their impact is significant on the quality and the rendering of the finished surface. OPTIFIN project aims to develop an analytical method to predict and classify the quality of finishing based on a real-time wood surface analysis. This surface analysis will require the coupling of several acquisition techniques, usable in industry,(single camera spectrum, hyperspectral camera, polarization, telemetry, another spectrometry, etc..) and the coupling of several methods of signal processing (usual signal separation or recursive method, classification by fuzzy logic suitable for wood, another classifier). OPTIFIN project lasts for 36 months, includes two laboratories, a technical center and several manufacturers. It aims to:
• Develop methods and tools for rapid wood surface analysis, physico-chemical analysis coupled with texture-color wood, mainly for oak,
• The study, characterization and understanding of the physicochemical phenomena and singularities of the wood that impact the quality of finishes applied
• Based on the previous points, the development of a method of analysis and classification able to predict quality and looking of finishes.
The project is mainly built around the knowledge and skills developed on scientific classification of wood and various materials multi-spectral analysis of laboratories LCPME and CRAN. The technology center, CRITT Bois, coordinate this project and provides wood knowledge. Industrials BERRY Wood and OGF Industrie will give the course in order to develop knowledge and processes related to economic opportunities.