This book introduces the reader to the history, materials properties, and manufacturing methods of transparent wood biocomposites. After an introductory chapter summarizing the major developments in the field, the book looks at a number of recent and groundbreaking applications, particularly in the fields of solar cells, smart buildings, and transparent wood smart windows. Finally, the authors’ own work on the combustion and fire-technical properties of transparent wood is discussed in detail. This monograph appeals to readers involved in transparent wood research, manufacturing, and application. It is also undoubtedly of interest to a broader readership of practitioners and university students involved in materials science for fire prevention.
Ing. Igor Wachter, PhD. defended his dissertation in 2018 at Slovak University of Technology. Since that year he works as a researcher at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava. He also conducted research abroad, namely at the University of Queensland. Among the main areas of research, he deals with are Fire Engineering, Thermal Analysis and Wood Modification. He is an author of dozens of scientific articles, has attended several international conferences and has been a member of several research teams dealing with various scientific projects (APVV, VEGA, KEGA, H2020).
Doc. Ing. Peter Rantuch, PhD. is a graduate of the Technical University in Zvolen, where in 2009 he earned the title engineer in the field of Fire Protection. In 2012, he also completed his doctoral studies in the field of Fire Safety and Fire Protection. He currently works as an associate professor at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. He teaches subjects focused on physical and chemical processes during the combustion and extinguishing processes. In the field of science and research, he deals with the thermal decomposition of combustible materials, especially oxygen consumption calorimetry.
Ing. Tomáš Štefko, PhD. graduated at Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava in the field of Environmental Safety with his doctoral thesis “Assessment of degradability of metalworking fluids” in 2017. Since then, he is employed at the Department of Integrated Safety, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, where he works as a researcher. His field of interest includes fire safety of materials and recycling technologies. As a lecturer he educates students in the area of Fire safety of Buildings and Fire and Accident Investigation.
