Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining binder dosage and distribution on a substrate. The apparatus employed is made up of: a) a source of long wave ultraviolet light positioned so that ultraviolet waves emitted therefrom will come into contact with a substrate to which binder has been applied, b) a filter which blocks ultraviolet waves emitted from the UV source and reflected by the substrate but which allows visible light waves emitted by fluorescence of the binder to pass, c) a lens for imaging visible light onto a focal plane, d) a video camera positioned at the focal plane of the lens which converts the visible light waves that have passed through the filter and the lens into an electrical signal, and e) a device capable of correlating images received by the video camera to binder dosage and distribution on the substrate contacted by the ultraviolet waves emitted by the UV source.

Abstract: Cure of the binder used to produce a lignocellulosic composite material in a press is monitored by (1) inserting a transmitter probe and a receiver probe into the composite-forming mixture at parallel points; (2) passing an ultrasonic signal from the transmitter probe through the composite-forming mixture to the receiver probe; (3) measuring the pulse velocity of the ultrasonic signal; and (4) comparing the measured pulse velocity to that of a standard (i.e., velocity of pulse through a composite article in which the binder is completely cured). When the measured velocity and the velocity of the standard are equal, the composite article is removed from the press. This technique is particularly useful for monitoring the commercial production of composite and engineered wood products.