Laboratory-scale development of structural exterior flakeboard from hardwoods growing on southern pine sites

Abstract

A seriex of experiments was conducted to develop a 1/2-inch-thick, structural, exterior, mixed-species flakeboard functionally competitive with sheathing grades of plywood. The board design settled on is comprised of equal-weight portions throughout of Carya spp., Quercus alba L., Quercus falcata Michx., Liquidambar styraciflua L., and southern pine (e.g., Pinus taeda L.). These species were cut with a shaping-lathe headrig to yield face flakes 0.015 inch thick and core flakes 0.025 inch thick. All flakes were 3 inches long; those used in the core were reduced in width by milling. Phenol-formaldehyde binder (5.5%) was blended with flakes initially at 4 percent moisture content. Just prior to pressing, the mat was water-sprayed on both sides. Press time was 5 minutes at 335°F. All the panels had random flake orientation in the core; half the panels had random faces; the other half had faces comprised of aligned flakes.

Citation

Hse, Chung-Yun; Koch, Peter; Mcmillin, Charles W.; Price, Eddie W. 1975. Laboratory-scale development of structural exterior flakeboard from hardwoods growing on southern pine sites. Forest Products Journal, Vol. 25(4): 42-50