Process for the manufacture of dried, resin-treated fiber furnish
AssigneeBorden, Inc.
InventorsJohn W. Maxwell, Brian Vyse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The problem of resin precure encountered in fiberboard, especially medium-density fiberboard, produced by blow-line blending is overcome by adding an alkaline material to the wood fibers prior to blow-line blending in order to raise the pH of the wood preferably into the range of 4 to 7, and optimally around 5.5. Only the fiber used to form the surface layers of the mat which is hot pressed to form the fiberboard need have the alkaline material added thereto; alternatively, especially in the core layer of the mat, the action of the alkaline material may be reversed by adding an acid catalyst. The fiberboards formed have a glossy, hard surface which reduces the need for sanding.
Claims19
A process for forming a dried, resin-treated fiber furnish from a naturally-acidic fiber comprising:
- adding to said fibers not more than about 1% of the dry weight of said fibers of an alkaline material thereby neutralizing at least part of the acid in said fibers, and raising the pH of said fibers into the range of about 4 to about 7;
- blow-line blending said fibers with a urea-formaldehyde resin;
- and
- drying said resin-blended fibers to produce a dried, resin-treated fiber furnish, said drying being effected at a temperature sufficiently low that curing of said resin does not occur during said drying.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.