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Dry chips versus green chips as furnish for medium-density fiberboard

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The fiber characteristics and the physical and mechanical properties of medium-density fiberboard (MDF), manufactured with pressure-refined fiber from green and partially dried raw material, were analyzed to determine if dry wood chips made a better furnish than green wood chips. Pressure-refined dry material produced coarser fiber than those obtained from green material at the same refiner conditions. This was true for both loblolly pine and mixed hardwood material. Several important properties were shown to be affected by the MC of the chips prior to pressure-refining. For the mixed hardwood furnish, partially drying chips significantly improved IB strength of the fabricated panels. MOR, MOE, and dimensional properties were independent of initial chip MC. Partially drying softwood chips significantly improved MOR, IB, water absorption and thickness swelling of the fabricated panels, however MOE and linear expansion were adversely affected. It was concluded that partially drying loblolly pine chips prior to pressure-refining improvee the overall quality of the MDF panels.

Citation

Short, P.H.; Woodson, G.E.; Lyon, D.E. 1978. Dry chips versus green chips as furnish for medium-density fiberboard. Forest Products Journal 28(3):33-37
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8282