Engineered Wood Billet Preservative Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preserving engineered wood products are costly, result in uneven distribution of biocides, and often use chemicals not safe for habitable spaces, limiting the supply of durable wood products due to the scarcity of naturally resistant tree species.
Innovation Solution
Applying a wood enhancement agent, including preservatives, fungicides, insecticides, and water repellents, during the billet making process of engineered wood products, either with bonding agents or after steam pressing, to ensure even distribution and safety for use in habitable spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pressure treatment methods are used to introduce chemical preservatives into wood products, then the supply of durable wood products increases, but the distribution of biocides becomes uneven and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preservative chemicals to the wood strands before they are formed into the final wood product structure. By treating the raw material (strands) beforehand, the chemicals are distributed more uniformly throughout the material before bonding, eliminating the uneven distribution problem of post-treatment pressure methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure vessel system with a chemical application system that uses bonding agents as carriers. Instead of forcing chemicals into finished products under pressure, the chemicals are applied to strands during the bonding process, substituting mechanical forcing with chemical carrier-based distribution
2Reliability
If conventional pressure treatment methods are used to preserve wood products, then durability is improved, but preservation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the preservative treatment process with the wood product manufacturing process by applying chemicals during strand bonding. This merging eliminates the need for separate pressure treatment operations, reducing equipment costs, energy consumption, and overall preservation costs while maintaining durability
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding agent serves multiple functions: it acts as both the adhesive that bonds wood strands together and as the carrier vehicle for delivering preservative chemicals. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate chemical application systems and equipment, lowering overall preservation costs
3Reliability
If conventional pressure treatment methods are used, then chemical preservatives can be introduced into wood, but unsafe chemicals must be used that are not suitable for habitable spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using different types of preservatives (borates, organic biocides, metal complexes) that are less toxic and safer for indoor use compared to conventional heavy-metal based preservatives. These alternative chemicals provide adequate protection while being safe for habitable spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses bonding agents as disposable carriers that deliver the preservative chemicals during the manufacturing process. This approach allows for precise chemical application without requiring expensive, complex pressure treatment equipment, making safer chemicals economically viable
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces preservation costs, achieves even biocide distribution, and allows the use of safe biocides, enhancing the durability and stability of engineered wood products while reducing moisture-induced swelling and insect damage.
Implementation Method 1
the billets are formed into beams and other engineered wood products by using steam press technology in which steam and/or pressure are utilized
Implementation Method 2
a wood enhancement agent is applied to a scrim log material mat... The amount of the wood enhancement agent applied is sufficient to substantially cover the surfaces of the scrim log material mat
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of making a wood enhancement agent treated engineered wood product. The wood enhancement agent typically includes at least one of a preservative, a water repel but, a fungicide, an insecticide, a stabilizing agent, wax, an ultra-violet light inhibitor, and combinations thereof, and may also include an antioxidant. The wood enhancement agent is incorporated into the engineered wood product during a billet making process or after forming the billet. The wood enhancement agent may be applied to a warm billet after steam press, or to a reheated billet, by dipping, spraying, or flood coating the billet, or by diffusion, vacuum impregnation, pressure, or a combination thereof.