In-line Coated Wood Boards: Merging Surface Prep with Hot Pressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing of decorative wood-based boards often requires energy-, cost-, and time-consuming processing steps for surface preparation, such as sanding and applying primers or adhesives, which are not efficiently addressed by existing methods, and these boards typically require expensive high-density fiber boards for improved mechanical properties.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the use of wood particles or fibers combined with an inorganic particulate filler material and a binder to form a wood-based mat, which is pre-pressed and coated before hot pressing, allowing for direct decorative treatment without additional surface preparation steps, thereby reducing processing time and costs while enhancing mechanical and optical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional surface preparation steps (sanding, priming, adhesives) are used, then surface quality and mechanical properties are improved, but processing time and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surface preparation functions (sanding, priming, adhesive application) into a single coating layer applied during the hot pressing stage. This merging of operations eliminates sequential processing steps while achieving equivalent or superior surface quality and mechanical bonding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating composition is applied to the wood-based board surface before final hot pressing, allowing the coating to penetrate and bond with the wood fibers during the pressing process itself. This preliminary action replaces post-pressing surface preparation steps, reducing overall processing time while ensuring proper adhesion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional surface preparation steps (sanding, priming, adhesives) are used, then surface quality and mechanical properties are improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surface preparation functions (sanding, priming, adhesive application) into a single coating layer applied during the hot pressing stage. This merging of operations eliminates sequential processing steps while achieving equivalent or superior surface quality and mechanical bonding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a surface sealant, primer, and bonding agent in one application. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate priming and adhesive application steps, reducing material costs and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If high-density fiber boards are used, then mechanical properties are improved, but material costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the density parameter of the wood-based board by incorporating a coating composition that penetrates and binds wood fibers during hot pressing. This creates localized high-density zones at the surface and within the coating layer, providing enhanced mechanical properties comparable to high-density boards while using lower-density base materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining the wood-based board with a specialized coating composition containing binders and fillers. This composite layer provides enhanced mechanical strength and surface properties, allowing the use of lower-cost, lower-density wood substrates while achieving the mechanical performance of expensive high-density boards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Manufacturing precision

If extensive surface preparation is performed, then surface characteristics are improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface characteristicsVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple surface preparation functions (sanding, priming, adhesive application) into a single coating layer applied during the hot pressing stage. This merging of operations eliminates sequential processing steps while achieving equivalent or superior surface quality and mechanical bonding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating composition serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a surface sealant, primer, and bonding agent in one application. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate priming and adhesive application steps, reducing material costs and simplifying the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 process enables the production of decorative wood-based boards with improved surface characteristics and mechanical properties, such as increased surface density and bending strength, without the need for extensive surface preparation, using lower-cost materials like particle or medium-density fiber boards, thus offering a more efficient and economical manufacturing method.

Implementation Method 1

applying at least one layer of the at least one dry or liquid coating composition comprising at least one inorganic particulate filler material and at least one binder on the first and/or reverse side of the pre-pressed wood-based mat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

hot pressing the pre-pressed wood-based mat obtained in step e) into a solid wood-based board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHot pressing: Heat Treatment

Implementation Method 3

at least one binder for in-line coating of decorative wood-based boards

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3606711B1In-line coated decorative wood-based boards
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 OMYA INT AG
  • EP3606711B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3606711B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3606711B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a decorative wood-based board, to a decorative wood-based board, to the use of at least one dry or liquid 5 coating composition comprising at least one inorganic particulate filler material and at least one binder for in-line coating of decorative wood-based boards, and to the use of at least one dry or liquid coating composition comprising at least one inorganic particulate filler material and at least one binder for improving the mechanical properties of a decorative wood-based board. Furthermore, it relates to 10 the use of a decorative wood-based board in flooring applications, furniture, walls, roof panels, display cabinets, storage units, loudspeakers and shop-fittings.