Abstract: An adhesive composition comprising an emulsion polymer which comprises a (meth)acrylate copolymer and silica nanoparticles is described. The addition of the nanoparticles results in a significant increase in the overlap shear properties.

Abstract: New adhesives for bonding lignocellulosic material such as wood and wood products include a liquid adhesive solution and a predetermined quantity of extender. One type of extender is an inorganic extender such as earth soil powder, which can be used to form an extended adhesive having a higher viscosity, which may have a liquid state, a solid state or an intermediate state. Another type of extender is an organic extender containing starch, which can be used to form an adhesive having a high viscosity. The new adhesives can be formulated to provide at least comparable bonding strength but are cheaper to use than conventional liquid adhesives in making plywood, fiber board, oriented strand board and other engineered panels and wood products.

Abstract: Particle board, hard board, wafer board, plywood and the like are formed by vapor injection pressing using thin plates through which steam is injected into the product under consolidation, the thin plates lying adjacent the press platens. For closed steam pressing, the plate is provided with a peripheral seal which is inflatable to seal the cavity of the press using either the same stream which is injected into the product, or a second source of steam or other gas at a higher pressure.

Abstract: Wood surfaces are bonded together by heating and pressing using a preferably dry binder formulation constituting a thorough mixture of an isocyanate and a sugar or starch, the binder formulation also preferably containing a stabilizer and optionally a catalyst and a release agent. The binder formulation may be used with good results in an amount equal to the amount of straight isocyanate resin which would normally be used, i.e. the sugar or starch replaces a quantity of the isocyanate which would normally have been used, thereby reducing the total quantity of isocyanate, thus reducing cost without any disadvantage.

Abstract: Wood surfaces are bonded together by heating and pressing with a bonding composition containing, on a bonding agent solids basis, from 10-70% of one or more sugars and from 90-30% of an aminoplast, and the bonding composition being used in an amount equal to the amount of straight condensation resin which would normally be used, i.e. the sugar replaces a quantity of condensation resin normally used thereby reducing the total quantity of condensation resin, thereby reducing cost and formaldehyde emissions and without any disadvantages.

Abstract: A conventional conduction pressing apparatus for consolidating of composite products by pressure and heat is converted to a press in which heating is carried out by convection. This is accomplished by providing caul plates for use on the working surfaces on the press plattens, the caul plates having a central permeable area and a peripheral impermeable area, as well as appropriate sealing elements. Holes are drilled through the press plattens in order to provide a passageway for steam from an outside source to the central permeable areas of the caul plates.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for pressing fibrous, particulate or laminar materials to provide laminated products of low to medium density. The system is characterized by the use of lightweight pressing plates which have horizontal and vertical permeability, by the sealing of the press to provide a closed environment, and by heating substantially entirely by the use of a fluid heat carrier which heats the materials by convection.

Abstract: Composite products are formed, such as of lignocellulosic particles, by bonding through the transformation of added sugars and/or starches together with lignin and/or other phenolic containing materials, with the optional presence of added catalyst, the transformation causing the composition to convert into a furan-lignin type binder in situ by heat and pressure. The bonding composition is suitably activated by contact with live steam.

Abstract: Solid lignocellulosic material is bonded together by heating and pressing at a natural wood, pH by reacting sugars, starches or both in the presence of a catalyst capable of catalyzing transformation of the sugars and starches into a solid, insoluble in water, and an alkaline buffering agent if needed, for example to make waterproof plywood or composite products from particulate wood without hydrolytic degradation of the wood.

Abstract: Solid lignocellulosic material is bonded together by heating and pressing with a bonding composition comprising at least one carbohydrate and an acid capable of catalysing hydrolysis of the carbohydrate, for example to make plywood or particle board.