Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Resin and wax distribution and mobility during medium density fibreboard manufacture

Verteilung und Ausbreitung von Klebstoff und Wachs in mitteldichten Faserplatten bei ihrer Herstellung

  • Originals Originalarbeiten
  • Published:
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fluorescently labelled UF resin and paraffin wax have been used at a medium density fibreboard (MDF) production facility to characterise resin and wax distribution and mobility on MDF fibre and panels. The major findings from these comprehensive mill-scale trials have been the mobility of UF resin on fibre throughout the MDF process, while wax mobility occurs only on panel pressing. Complex interactions exist between resin distribution and wood fibre wall penetration which collectively provide evidence for three-dimensional resin movement on fibre through the production process. Fibre exiting the blowline had relatively high rates of resin coverage with resin droplet sizes dominated by the process of resin smearing through fibre-fibre contacts. On passing through the dryer resin coverage of fibre reduces, before increasing again on panel pressing. Wax distribution on unpressed fibre was dependent on the mode of application with emulsion and slack wax addition at the refiner being relatively similar, but differing to emulsified wax added via the blowline. On pressing, wax distribution in panels was distinguished by wax type, and was independent of the addition points.

Zusammenfassung

Unter Verwendung von fluoreszenzmarkiertem Harnstoffharz und Paraffin wurden in einem MDF-Werk die Verteilung und Ausbreitung von Klebstoff und Wachs auf Fasern und MDF-Platten untersucht. Die Ergebnisse dieser umfangreichen Untersuchung im Industriemaßstab zeigten, dass sich Harnstoffharz während der gesamten Plattenherstellung auf den Fasern ausbreitet, während sich Wachs nur während des Pressvorgangs der Platten ausbreitet. Zwischen der Harzverteilung und der Eindringung in die Holzzellwände bestehen komplexe Wechselbeziehungen, die die dreidimensionale Ausbreitung auf der Faseroberfläche bei der Herstellung belegen. Nach der Blowline-Beleimung wiesen die Fasern eine relativ hohe Harzbedeckung auf, wobei die Größe der Harztröpfchen durch die Verschmierungen infolge des Aneinanderreibens der Fasern bestimmt wurde. Während der Trocknung nimmt die Harzbedeckung der Fasern ab und beim Pressen der Platten wieder zu. Die Wachsverteilung ungepresster Fasern hing von der Art des Auftrags ab, wobei die Verteilung bei der Zugabe von Emulsion und Rohparaffin im Refiner ähnlich war, jedoch bei der Zugabe von emulgiertem Wachs in der Blowline deutlich unterschiedlich. Beim Pressen unterschied sich die Wachsverteilung in den Platten je nach Wachsart, war jedoch unabhängig davon, wo das Wachs zugegeben wurde.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1 Abb. 1
Fig. 2 Abb. 2
Fig. 3 Abb. 3
Fig. 4 Abb. 4
Fig. 5 Abb. 5
Fig. 6 Abb. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chapman KM, Jordan PJ (2003) Practical applications of a blowline blending model. In: Proc 7th European panel products symposium, Oct 2003, Llandudno, Wales

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman K (2004) In: Proc international wood composites symposium, 5–8 April 2004, Pullman, Washington, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Cyr PL, Riedl B, Wang X-M (2008) Investigtion of urea-melamine formaldehyde (UMF) resin penetration in medium-density board (MDF) by high resolution confocal laser scanning microscopy. Holz Roh-Werkst 66:129–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ede R, Thumm A, Coombridge B, Brooks G (1998) Visualization and quantification of wax on MDF panels: a comparison of emulsion and molten waxes. In: Proc 32nd international particleboard/composite materials symposium, 31 March 1998, Pullman, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis S (1993) Effect of resin particle size on waferboard adhesive efficiency. Wood Fiber Sci 25:214–219

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feng MW, Andersen AW (2004) Uniformity of UF resin distribution in MDF—in a mill study using the Glumarker method. In: Proc 7th pacific rim biobased composites symposium, Nanjing, China, November 2004

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigsby WJ, Murton K, Thumm A (2004a) Effect of process conditions on resin mobility during medium density fiberboard (MDF) production. In: Proc international wood composites symposium, 5–8 April 2004, Pullman, Washington, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigsby WJ, McDonald AM, Thumm A, Loxton C (2004b) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy determination of resin coverage on MDF fiber. Holz Roh- Werkst 62(5):358–364

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grigsby WJ, Thumm A (2002) Interaction of wax and UF resin in MDF: quantification of wax and resin distribution by confocal microscopy. In: Proc. 6th pacific rim biobased composites symposium, November 2002, Portland, Oregon

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigsby WJ, Thumm A (2008a) Comparison of blowline and mechanical blender resin addition in MDF. Implications for resin efficiency. In: Proc 9th pacific rim bio-based composites symposium, 5–8 November 2008, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Google Scholar 

  • Grigsby WJ, Thumm A (2008b) Effect of UF resin distribution on MDF panel properties. In: Proc 9th pacific rim bio-based composites symposium, 5–8 November 2008, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Google Scholar 

  • Groom L (2005) Distribution and penetration of resin on individual wood fibres. In: Proc 13th international wood, fibre and pulp chemistry symposium, May 2005, Auckland, New Zealand

    Google Scholar 

  • Groom L, So C-L, Elder T, Pesacreta T, Rials T (2004) Effect of refining pressure and resin viscosity on resin flow, distribution and penetration of MDF fibres. In: Proc 7th pacific rim bio-based composites symposium, November 2004, Nanjing, China

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamke FA, Lenth CA, Saunders HG (1996) Measurement of resin and wax distribution on wood flakes. For Prod J 46:63–68

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamke FA, Scott KA, Smith RE (2002) Measurement of resin distribution on MDF fiber: a mill trial. In: Proc 6th pacific rim bio-based composites symposium, vol 1, 10–13 November 2002, Portland, OR, USA, pp 86–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Loxton C, Thumm A, Grigsby WJ, Adams T, Ede R (2003) Resin distribution in medium density fiberboard, quantification of UF resin distribution on blowline blended MDF fiber and panels. Wood Fiber Sci 35:370–380

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lukkaroinen J, Dunky M (2005) European market for adhesives for panel board products: Actual state and challenges for the future. In: Proc Wood Adhesives 2005, November 2005, San Diego, CA, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakdel H, Cyr PL, Reidl B, Deng J (2008) Quantification of urea formaldehyde resin in wood fibers using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Wood Sci Technol 42:133–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzi A (1983) Aminoresin wood adhesives. In: Pizzi A (ed) Wood adhesives chemistry and technology. Dekker, New York, pp 59–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Roffael E, Schneider T, Dix B (2003) Paraffins of different chain lengths as water repellent in medium-density board (MDF). Holz Roh- Werkst 61(6):469–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roffael E, Schneider T, Dix B (2005a) On paraffin sizing of medium density fiberboards (MDF). Part 1: Influence of the chemical composition of paraffin and type of emulsifier on the hydrophobic properties of MDF. Holz Roh- Werkst 63(3):192–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roffael E, Schneider T, Dix B (2005b) On paraffin sizing of medium density fiberboards (MDF) Part 2: Influence of resination process (blender and blowline technique) and method of adding paraffin dispersion within the blender- and blowline-process on paraffin sizing of medium density fibreboards (MDF). 2005. Holz Roh- Werkst 63(4):272–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roffael E, Schneider T, Dix B (2005c) On paraffin sizing of medium density fibreboards (MDF). Part 3: Methods for evaluation of paraffin sizing on thermo-mechanical pulps. Holz Roh- Werkst 63(4):278–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robson D (1991) What happens with blending in the MDF blowline. In: Proc 25th international symposium particle/composite materials, April 1991, Pullman, WA

    Google Scholar 

  • Sekino N, Irle MA (1996) Particleboard hygroscopicity: its prediction and the influence of hot-pressing. Mokuzai Gakkaishi 42(1):43–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Thumm A, Grigsby WJ (2002) Qualitative analysis of the relationships between wax and resin on MDF fibre. In: Proc 6th European panel products symposium, October 2002, Llandudno, Wales

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie Y, Feng MW, Deng J (2004) Quantification of UF and PF resins in MDF fibre with an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Wood Fiber Sci 36:337–343

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing C, Riedl B, Cloutier A, Shaler S (2005) Characterization of urea-formaldehyde resin penetration into medium density fibreboards fibers. Wood Sci Technol 39:374–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work reported was contributed to by two separate trials. The authors would like to thank the New Zealand Composite Panels Research Group for supporting the resin trial. This group comprises MDF panel producers as well as adhesive and resin suppliers. For the wax trial the authors wish to thank ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company for financial support of this work and the provision of wax samples provided by ExxonMobil Products Research & Technology, Paulsboro, New Jersey, USA. The authors are also grateful for the technical assistance provided by Andrew Milton (ExxonMobil New Zealand) and Peter Burrell (Scion) during the mill trials and that provided by Tracy Adams and Bernie Cowell (Scion) in preparation of the wax label and panel testing, respectively. We would also like to thank staff at Orica Adhesives & Resins Ltd (now Momentive) for preparing the UF resin used in the trial and to those staff at the MDF mill used for this trial for both their assistance and participation in the trial.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioproduct Development, Scion, 49 Sala Street, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand

    Warren J. Grigsby & Armin Thumm

Authors
  1. Warren J. Grigsby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Armin Thumm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Warren J. Grigsby.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grigsby, W.J., Thumm, A. Resin and wax distribution and mobility during medium density fibreboard manufacture. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 70, 337–348 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-011-0560-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-011-0560-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation