Wood Waste and Resin Products–Their Application and Physical Properties

The binding together of wood wastes such as sawdust to make useable products has been slow to develop in this country. The product, a compromise between wood and plastic, can be tailor made by varying the wood-resin mix composition. The process involves placing the wood-resin mix in a heated die and compressing to the approximate finished shape. The product has the advantages of uniformity and lack of grain effect, low cost, lower specific gravity than plastic, and paintability. By incorporating extenders to impart water resistance, fireproofing, and increased strength, any variety of properties can be obtained. The application of such composites can be in two general areas: flat building board or die molded shapes. Compared with wood, the composite material is generally better in strength properties than solid wood and has better moisture sorption properties. It can be used in the place of solid wood when wood is too expensive, deficient in certain physical properties, shrinks, warps, checks and swells too much, grain effects are undesirable, has a low heat resistance, and has to be prepared in order to take paint. It is undesirable when the product must look like wood and when a specific gravity of approximately 1.0 is unacceptable. In competition with plastics it offers the advantages of lower cost and weight.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member