Dry process for bonding silica-rich plant materials
AssigneeSantee, Inc.
InventorCharles L. Capps
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Particles of silica-rich plant material are bonded into a rigid unitary body. The silica content of such materials is believed to enter into bonding reactions when the materials are combined with a polymeric resin base material such as PAPI that has been previously converted by reaction with a colloidal gel formed from silica and a basic solution. The resulting product exhibits characteristics superior to most engineered wood products. A theoretical analysis of the bonding chemistry is proposed.
Claims10
A method of forming a rigid structural body comprising the steps of.
- (a) forming a substantially dry mixture of silica-rich plant material and a binder material formed from a polymeric resin base material comprising 4,4′ or 2,4′ methylene diisocyanate converted with a silica gel;
- (b) heating said composition;
- and
- (c) compressing said composition.
A unitary body comprising particles of silica-rich plant material bound together by the reaction product of a base polymer resin material comprising 4,4′ methylene diisocyanate or 2,4′ methylene diisocyanate in a range of from about 20% to about 55% by weight and a functionality greater from about 2 and a silica gel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.