Use of wood-based panels in engineered flooring: A bibliometric and systematic review

Engineered wood flooring has increased in popularity since its introduction in the 1970’s. This is primarily due to its resistance and good appearance, similar to natural wood. This type of flooring can be made in solid-sawn timber (hardwood) or alternative materials such as plywood or particleboard. This work presents a systematic literature review on using wood-based panels as a support layer in engineered wood flooring. It outlines a profile of the publications through a bibliometric review. The review considered the entire spectrum of panels generally available for this type of application (particleboard, fiberboard, plywood, and veneer). This resulted in 26 articles selected from the Web of Science and Engineering Village databases. In this context, OSB panels (Oriented Strand Board) made of wood strands were highlighted in the articles as a possible alternative to sawn wood and plywood, mainly in terms of the dimensional stability of the floor. The moisture variation and its effects on the performance of floors is a cause for concern. Thus, the article presents a state-of-the-art analysis of the application of wood panels in the fabrication of engineered wood flooring, its main characteristics, and notes regarding gaps and future works.