Rapidly heating and cooling composite mats comprised of cellulose and thermoplastic polymer

A method for producing a composite board, the method comprising:

• causing, by a processor, a hot press comprising hot-platens to heat and compress a composite mat comprising plastic, cellulose, and water between the hot-platens;
• receiving, by the processor from a pressure sensor, indications of pressure applied by the hot-platens to the composite mat;
• causing, by the processor based on the indications of pressure, the hot press to apply a pressure within a target pressure range to the composite mat for a first amount of time, the pressure and the first amount of time causing water in the composite mat to superheat to a temperature above a boiling temperature of water at a standard atmospheric pressure without changing from a liquid state to a gaseous state;
• and
• causing, by the processor, the hot press to release the pressure of the hot-platens on the composite mat, releasing the pressure causing the superheated water to change from the liquid state to the gaseous state.