Timber-Polymer Products
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TIMBER-POLYMER PRODUCTS MADE OF TIMBER AND POLYETHYLENE PROCESSING WASTES: A Russian industrial association is offering this new technology of manufacturing timber-polymer boards which is based on a radically new approach to preparing the initial press-mass for their fabrication. The wood-processing wastes (the first component) as well as by-products of polyolephine processing (the second component) are used as raw materials in the proposed technology. Its novelty and originality comprise the application of technological methods providing physical and chemical interaction of components which leads to their structure alterations and transformation into wood-polymer composite materials with desired properties. The control of technological parameters causing physical and mechanical interaction of wood and polymer, allows obtaining a wide range of materials with characteristics varying from properties of wood chipboards to those of plastics. One of the varieties of the technology provides manufacturing a single component wood material - timber plastic which is produced without polymer or any other external binder. The quality characteristics of the new chipboards are as follows: Volumetric mass 1200-1300 kg/cu.m; Bending strength 25 MPa; Compressive strength 48 MPa; Module of elasticity 9,500 MPa; Thermal conductivity 0.15 W/m.K; Humidity 1.0 %; Water consumption 0.55 %; Swelling (related to thickness) 0.1 %; The manufacturing procedure includes the following operations: delivery of raw materials from the stockpiles; crushing of raw materials (in case of its deviation from optimal dispersion mixing of wood filler and polymer binder; the mass feeding into a molding machine, product pressing under heating transportation to a finished-product storehouse. A pilot production line to manufacture the wood-polymer boards has been built recently at Svirsky wood products factory (St. Petersburg Region) in Russia. Depending on the technology options, products with large variety of sizes can be manufactured: up to 3 m long, 1.5 m wide and from 3 to 50 mm wide. A curved or corrugated shape of boards can be obtained within the regular technological process. The application of the extrusion equipment makes it possible to fabricate longitudinal products with any cross section. Any kind of mechanical treatment or surface finishing are applicable to the products, including laminated veneering, papering, film gluing, painting, varnishing, enameling, etc. The use of cheap waste products of timber industry as well as of secondary processing of polyolephine makes the cost of the developed materials comparable to that of the analogous production of the same grade (phenol-based or formaldehyde-based chipboards) whereas the environmental safety gives the evident superiority to the this product. This technology pertains to the class of environmentally friendly and resource saving ones. A joint project with a foreign partner can be opened for introduction of the environmentally safe and efficient technology. It is proposed to introduce the research results obtained at the Svirsky factory to a timber factory in the partner's country or in any third country. PRODUCTION CAPACITY: 3,000 cu.m per year (at 3-shift work); INPUTS REQUIRED: Building: 18 x 36 x 9m; Power: 750,000 kW.h per year; Water: 60,000 cu.m/year; Raw materials: wood processing wastes (saw dust, timber shavings and cuts -3,500 ton/year), polyethylene processing wastes/polyethylene for recycling (600 ton/year); Manpower required: 15 (6 skilled; 3 technicians; 6 unskilled); ECONOMIC DATA:Total project cost - US$ 900,000; including machinery/equipment - US$ 290,000; license fee - US$ 250,000; training fee - US$ 50,000; Operational cost/year - US$ 595,000 (per 3,000 cu.m); TRANSFER FORMS: In case of joint venture, 80% of the license fee would exchanged for an equity. TARGET COUNTRIES: any country which has blast furnace works or ferroalloys works of the capacity exceeding 200,000 tons of steel or/and iron per year. CONTACT DETAILS: "Dr. Alexandre Berezner - Chief Expert, International Co-operation. Stroyprogress New Age J.St.Co., 17, Varshavskoe Shausse, P.O.Box 53, 113 191 Moscow, Russia. Tel: :(7-095) 954 9399; Fax: (7-095) 952 0440; E-mail: sega@glasnet.ru or sega@glas.apc.org; Web: http://www.stroyprogress.glasnet.ru"
Sector: Construction
Country: India
Area of Application: Construction materials; plastics industry: timber and timber-plastic products manufactured under the new technology can be applied as finishing or decorative material, as structural material in building industry (including outdoor structural components), as ecologically pure material for children and hospital furniture, for manufacturing various kinds of transport facilities, for fabricating cases for radio, TV and various technical appliances, for packing (including food packing), for manufacturing artistically shaped elements of furniture, etc.
Keywords: timber, polymer, polyethylene, waste, manufacturing, construction
Advantages: The technology solves the problem of re-use of industrial wastes and is one of purely waste-free one. The products manufactured according to the proposed technology make it possible to avoid the use of health hazardous phenol-based or formaldehyde-based chipboards thus contributing to efforts of creating healthy environment. According to the traditional technology the press-composition for manufacturing the analogous products - hardboards and chipboards - is prepared by mixing two components: specially grinded wood and a phenol-formaldehyde resin, the latter being a well known health hazard. A so-called "carpet" is formed from the mixture for further transformation into the final product by means of pressing. The two components are not chemically interacting during the process and their structure is not liable to changes in the course of mixing. The properties of the product are determined only by the degree of surface interaction of wood particles with the binder. Both components are fairly expensive; moreover, the binder is health hazardous; therefore its application is not allowed in some specific cases, e.g. in manufacturing kindergarten and hospital furniture, etc. The proposed technology entirely eliminates these disadvantages. The resulting products have better quality than traditional hardboards, and in some cases - better than natural timber.
Environmental aspects: Not Applicable
Development Status: Fully Commercialized
Legal Protection: Patent
Technical specifications: see above
Transfer Terms: Consultancy , Joint Venture , Technology Licensing , Equipment Supply
Target Countries:
Estimated cost (US$):
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Contact Person: APCTT (UNESCAP)
Address: Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) C-2, Qutab Institutional Area
City: New Delhi
Country: India
Zip/Pin Code: 110016