Challenges using annual plants as substitution for wood in particle-board production [Elektronisk resurs] Modification of reed canary grass

• Forecasts show that, already in 2020, the European consumption of wood and wood fibre raw material can be as large as Europe’s combined forest growth increment. An increasing proportion of the forest raw material is expected to be used as fuel for heating, as propellant fuel or to generate electricity. This means an increasingly tight competition for wood between the board industry and the energy-conversion industry and a need for the board industry to find new raw material sources.High productivity in the boreal regions makes reed canary grass interesting as a raw material for several applications where wood is today the main raw material. One possible application is in board manufacture, e.g. as a substitute for wood in the core of multi-layer particleboards. The properties of reed canary grass must, however be modified to meet the industrial standards for particleboard production and for the mechanical properties of the boards. Alternatively, different adhesives can be chosen.The purpose of this paper is to present some pre-treatments and adhesives suitable for use when reed canary grass is used as core material in industrial particleboard production. An overview of different methods for pre-treatment and optional adhesives that can be used to increase the bonding properties of annual plants in the context of particleboard production is also presented.The bonding properties have been studied through mechanical tests and through light microscopy studies. Untreated and NaOH-pre-treated reed canary grass in combination with MUF, PVAc, Lignin, and PUR adhesives have been used in the tests.The results show that an adhesion suitable for particleboard production can be achieved with a NaOH-pre-treatment of the grass together with melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), and especially PVAc and PUR adhesive. The adhesive system must, however, be optimized for industrial conditions. 

Ämnesord

Engineering and Technology  (hsv)

Mechanical Engineering  (hsv)

Other Mechanical Engineering  (hsv)

Teknik och teknologier  (hsv)

Maskinteknik  (hsv)

Annan maskinteknik  (hsv)

Träteknik  (ltu)

Wood Technology  (ltu)