Method for producing wood fibre composite products
AssigneeNew Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited
InventorsJeremy Martin Warnes, Alan Fernyhough, Charles Ross Anderson, Brendan James Lee, Michael Ralph Juergen Witt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for producing a thermoformable fibre-plastics composite product comprising lignolcellulosic or natural fibres, particularly but not exclusively useful as an intermediate product in subsequent manufacture, comprises conveying the fibres in a dry or wet air stream and applying to the fibres a thermoplastic binding agent, and forming the fibres into a solid or semi-solid product such as a panel, which is thermoformable. In at least a preferred embodiment the process may be carried out in known plant for manufacture of medium density fibre board.
Claims24
A process for producing a thermoformable fibre-plastics composite product comprising fibres of a lignocellulosic material or natural fibres, comprising:
- conveying loose or divided fibres or fibre bundles, produced by mechanically or thermomechanically or chemo-thermomechanically or chemo-mechanically breaking down a lignocellulosic material, or natural fibres, in a dry or wet air stream and applying to or intimately mixing with the fibres while so conveying the fibres sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents in a liquid formulation or particulate form to enable, after subsequently forming the fibres into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape, and
- so forming the fibres into a solid thermoformable panel having a density of about 500 kg/m3 or more by hot pressing the fibers.
A process for producing a thermoformable fibre-plastics composite product comprising:
- conveying loose or divided fibres or fibre bundles, produced by mechanically or thermomechanically or chemo-thermomechanically or chemo-mechanically breaking down a lignocellulosic material, in a dry or wet air stream and applying to the fibres while so conveying the fibres sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents to enable, after subsequently forming the fibres into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape,
- so forming the fibres into a solid thermoformable substantially planar panel having a density of about 500 kg/m3 or more by hot pressing the fibers, and
- heating and thermoforming said panel or a part thereof into a non-planar shape.
A process for producing a thermoformable fibre-plastics composite product comprising:
- conveying loose or divided fibres or fibre bundles, produced by mechanically or thermomechanically or chemo-thermomechanically or chemo-mechanically breaking down a lignocellulosic material, in a dry or wet air stream and applying to the fibres while so conveying the fibres sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents to enable, after subsequently forming the fibres into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape, and
- so forming the fibres directly into a solid panel having a predetermined shape useful in manufacture and having a density of about 500 kq/m3 or more by hot pressing the fibers without requiring further thermoforming.
A process for producing a thermoformable particulate-plastics composite product comprising particlesof a lignocellulosic material or natural material, comprising:
- conveying particles of a lignocellulosic material, or natural material, in an air stream and applying to or intimately mixing with the particles while so conveying the particles sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents in a liquid formulation or particulate form to enable, after subsequently forming the particles into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape, and
- so forming the particles into a solid thermoformable panel having a density of about 500 kg/m3 or more by hot pressing the particles.
A process for producing a thermoformable particulate-plastics composite product comprising particles of a lignocellulosic material or natural material, comprising:
- conveying particles of a lignocellulosic material, or natural material, in a dry or wet air stream and applying to the particles while so conveying the particles sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents to enable, after subsequently forming the particles into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape, and
- so forming the particles into a solid thermoformable substantially planar panel having a density of about 500 kq/m3 or more by hot pressing the particles, and
- heating and thermoforming said panel or a part thereof into a non-planar shape.
A process for producing a thermoformable particulate-plastics composite product comprising:
- conveying particles of a lignocellulosic material in a dry or wet air stream and applying to while so conveying the particles sufficient of one or more thermoplastic binding agents to enable, after subsequently forming the particles into a solid panel, said panel to be thermoformed to a different shape, and
- so forming the particles directly into a predetermined shape useful in manufacture without requiring further thermoforming having a density of about 500 kq/m3 or more by hot pressing the particles.
A process for producing a thermoformable composite product comprising fibres or particles of a lignocellulosic or natural material, which includes the steps of:
- conveying loose or divided fibres or fibre bundles, produced by mechanically or thermomechanically or chemo-thermomechanically or chemo-mechanically breaking down a lignocellulosic material, or natural fibres, or particles of a lignocellulosic or other natural material, in a dry or wet air stream and applying to or intimately mixing with the fibres or particles while so conveying the fibres or particles a thermoset binding agent, and
- so forming the fibres or particles into a solid panel having a density of about 500 kg/m3 or more by hot pressing the particles at a temperature which only partially cures the thermoset binder such that the panel can subsequently be formed to a different shape with heat which will further cure the thermoset binder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.