| Summary: |
The increase of the world demand for wood-based composites and the conscience of the trees role in the global ecosystem is driving to the use of recycled wood and wood from different sources/species in the formulation of wood composites. The variability of the available wood rises difficulties concerning the compatibility/adequacy of the resin (binding agent) with the wood.
The present project aims to optimize the UF (urea-formaldehyde) properties, use for the production of wood composites, as a function of the available wood characteristics. The UF properties will be also related with the operating and feed conditions of the polymerization reactors and resin synthesis formulation.
Using an experimental design tool it will be conducted a systematic investigation aiming relating a pilot reactor operating conditions with the molecular mass distribution, branching degree and condensation structures, linking them with UF resin viscosity, wettability and adhesion. Finally, the adhesion should be optimized considering UF resins' properties and wood characteristics.
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