Method of producing fibers from a straw and board products made therefrom
AssigneeMasonite Corporation
InventorsDavid Benard Good, Leland Bruce Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of refining wheat straw into fibers cuts the straw to a length of between about two and about four inches, wets the straw, softens the straw by subjecting the straw to pressurized steam and refines the softened straw in a pressurized mechanical refiner to produce fibers capable of being used in the manufacture of cellulosic board products. The straw fibers may be combined in any proportion to other fibers, such as wood fibers, and used in known dry, wet-dry, and wet board manufacturing processes to produce softboard, medium-density fiberboard, and hardboard products.
Claims38
A method of producing fibers capable of being used in the manufacture of cellulosic fiberboard products from straw comprising the steps of:
- cutting the straw to a length of about two inches to about four inches;
- softening the straw by contacting the straw with steam under elevated pressure for a period of time between 30 seconds and two minutes;
- and
- mechanically refining the softened straw to produce fibers capable of being used in the manufacture of cellulosic fiberboard products.
A method of producing fibers from wheat straw wherein the fibers are capable of being used in the manufacture of cellulosic fiberboard products comprising the steps of:
- cutting the wheat straw;
- wetting the wheat straw by contacting the straw with liquid water;
- softening the wheat straw by contacting the straw with steam under elevated pressure for a period of time between 30 seconds and two minutes after said wetting step;
- and
- mechanically refining the softened wheat straw at an intensity of between about 500 kWh and about 1500 kWh per ton of bone-dry straw to produce fibers capable of being used in the manufacture of cellulosic fiberboard products.
A method of producing a cellulosic fiberboard from straw comprising the steps of:
- cutting the straw;
- wetting the straw with water;
- softening the straw by contacting the straw with steam pressurized to between about 30 psig and about 100 psig for a period of time between about 30 seconds and about two minutes;
- refining the softened straw to produce straw fibers;
- and
- producing a cellulosic fiberboard product from the straw fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.