Lignocellulose Planar Material With Low-Swelling Binder Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar materials made from wood fibers swell due to water absorption, leading to shape changes and unsightly gaps, while alternatives like wood-plastic composites require unsuitable extrusion processes and non-renewable materials, and stone-plastic composites have environmental drawbacks.
Innovation Solution
A planar material with a binding agent proportion exceeding 50% by weight, using lignocellulose fibers and a non-hygroscopic binding agent like melamine, combined with plasticizing additives, to create a dimensionally stable and low-emission product suitable for large formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wood fibers are used to produce planar materials, then renewable raw material with good strength properties is utilized, but the material swells due to water absorption leading to shape changes and unsightly gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system where hydrophobic particles (wax, oils, or water-repellent coatings) are combined with lignocellulose fibers and binding agents. The hydrophobic particles form a protective network around the hygroscopic wood fibers, preventing water absorption while maintaining the renewable nature of the primary structure. This composite approach allows the material to retain both the environmental benefits of wood fibers and the dimensional stability of water-repellent components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If wood-plastic composites are used to achieve dimensional stability, then swelling is reduced, but the production requires extruders that are not suitable for large dimensions and non-renewable materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of water repellency from the complex wood-plastic composite system and applies it selectively to lignocellulose fibers through surface treatment or coating with hydrophobic substances. This extraction allows the material to achieve dimensional stability without requiring full plastic integration or complex extrusion processes, enabling production using standard planar material manufacturing equipment for large dimensions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stone-plastic composites are used to produce non-swelling planar materials, then swelling is eliminated, but halogens or terephthalates are used which are disadvantageous from an environmental perspective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs naturally occurring, biodegradable hydrophobic substances such as waxes and oils that can be applied as surface treatments or integrated into the fiber structure. These natural alternatives replace harmful synthetic chemicals like halogens and terephthalates, providing effective water repellency while maintaining environmental compatibility and enabling the material to be produced from renewable resources without harmful emissions.
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
The material exhibits minimal swelling, high strength, and dimensional stability, allowing use in various applications, including damp environments, without the need for complex extrusion and using mostly renewable resources.
Implementation Method 1
binding agents
Implementation Method 2
non-hygroscopic binding agent like melamine
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a planar material, comprising lignocellulose fibers and binding agents. In order to provide a planar material that using fibers has reduced swelling, it is provided that the proportion of the binding agent has more than 50 wt % of the planar material. The invention also comprises a method for producing the planar material.