Pallet Block Manufacturing Using MUF Resin Binders

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for manufacturing pallet blocks fail to effectively utilize chipboard and HDF/MDF waste materials, leading to environmental pollution and inefficiencies, as these materials are often incinerated improperly due to their complex recycling requirements and incompatibility with traditional pallet block production.

Innovation Solution

A process that combines chipboard waste with MDF/HDF waste, using a mixture of urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde resin as a binding agent, to create pallet blocks with a specific composition that meets the EU standard EN 13698-1, optimizing energy use and reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If chipboard and HDF/MDF waste materials are used for pallet block manufacture, then resource utilization improves and environmental impact reduces, but manufacturing complexity increases due to material incompatibility with traditional production methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste material utilizationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of the binding system by using a two-component resin system (isocyanate component and polyol component) instead of traditional single-component adhesives. This allows the waste materials to be effectively bound while maintaining processability. The resin system parameters are specifically adjusted to accommodate the diverse composition of chipboard and HDF/MDF waste materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system by combining chipboard waste particles, HDF/MDF waste particles, and a two-component resin matrix. This composite approach allows the utilization of incompatible waste materials together, as the flexible resin system can bond different material types. The composite structure achieves both high waste content (90-100%) and adequate mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If traditional adhesives are used for binding waste materials, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but bond strength and weather resistance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint strength and weather resistanceVSAvoidadhesive application complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the curing mechanism from the adhesive application process by using a two-component system where mixing occurs at the point of application rather than requiring pre-mixed complex adhesives. This allows simple application equipment to be used while achieving superior bond strength through the chemical reaction between isocyanate and polyol components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical reactivity parameters of the binding system by employing isocyanate and polyol components that react to form strong crosslinked bonds. This chemical parameter change provides superior weather resistance and joint strength compared to traditional adhesives, while the liquid state of components before mixing maintains ease of application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If high waste material content is used in pallet blocks, then resource efficiency improves, but formaldehyde emission control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste material contentVSAvoidformaldehyde emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by completely replacing formaldehyde-based adhesives with an isocyanate-polyol resin system. This parameter change eliminates formaldehyde emissions entirely while maintaining high waste material content (90-100%). The resin system parameters are selected to ensure low emissions and environmental compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of using diverse waste materials (which could increase emissions) into a benefit by selecting a resin system that not only binds the materials effectively but also eliminates formaldehyde emissions. The waste materials become beneficial raw materials rather than sources of pollution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Use of energy by moving object

If conventional production methods are used for waste materials, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to improper processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing method simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the thermal and chemical parameters of the processing method by using a resin system that cures at moderate temperatures through chemical reaction rather than requiring high-temperature processing. This parameter change reduces energy consumption while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the mixing and curing process can be performed using standard equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 process results in pallet blocks that are cheaper to produce, require less energy, and meet the necessary standards for density, strength, and formaldehyde emission, while also addressing the environmental burden of waste material utilization.

Implementation Method 1

wherein a binder consisting of a mixture of a two-component resin system, in particular a polyurethane resin system, having a first component, designated as the isocyanate component, and a second component, designated as the polyol component, is used for binding the wood particles to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP3296073B1Process for the manufacture of a pallet block
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 3S LOGISTYKA SP Z O O SPOLKA KOMANDYTOWA
  • EP3296073B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3296073B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3296073B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A pallet block comprising a particulate material glued with a binding material, said binding material being in the form of the urea-formaldehyde resin and melamine-formaldehyde resin mixture (MUF) and wherein the particulate material comprises the chipboard waste waste in amounts of from 70 do 90% by weight and the MDF and/or HDF waste in amounts of from 10 do 30% by weight, and a process for the manufacture of a pallet block which comprises the steps of (a) preparing chips from the source material, (b) charging the chips prepared in the step (a) and secondary comminution thereof, (c) drying the chips of the step (b), (d) sieving the chips prepared in the step (c), (e) buffering the chips of the step (d) and metering thereof, (f) gluing chips with the urea-formaldehyde resin and melamine-formaldehyde resin mixture (MUF), (g) compression molding of the glued chips into the form of strips, the strips being cut lengthwise to the shapes of the blocks, (e) conditioning and storage of the blocks prepared in the step (g), characterized in that for the manufacture of the chips in the step (a) the material of the chipboard waste and/or HDF and/or MDF board waste is used as a feed material, the chipboard content being from 70 to 90%, and the content of the MDF and/or HDF board waste being from 10 to 30%.