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Title
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A process to agglomerate wood and cork particles
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Abstract
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A research group from Chemistry Department (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro) developed a particle agglomeration process of wood and cork which uses an agglomerating system consisting of a commercially available pre-polymer, a reticulation agent and possibly a catalyst in order to obtain agglomerations of cork and/or wood particles with new characteristics and with new particle compositions. It refers to particle agglomeration process of sectors of wood and cork, in particular wood chips, fibre dust, polish dust, saw mill or saw dust and the agglomeration of cork particles usually known as cork granules, cork powder or cork dust (cork particles less than 0.2 mm in size) and ?terras? for use in the particle agglomeration industry, wood particles boards, veneers, plywood, lamellate wood and other panels in the wood sector, often designated as the panels and veneers sub-sector and in the cork agglomerates sub-sector.
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Description
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The process consists of mixing, in a vertical or horizontal industrial mixer, the particles with the pre-polymer in order to obtain a homogenous distribution of the agglomerate in the particles.
After the mixing phase the reticulation agent is added and possibly a catalyst followed by a new mixing phase for the homogenisation.
After the final mixing the material is compressed at a temperature between 30 - 90ºC, for a period that can vary from between 1 minute to 3 days (depending on the type of reticulation agent, the temperature and the use or not of a catalyst) to obtain the agglomeration slabs.
Using these reagents in the cork particle agglomeration process and in particular with cork powder and “soils” and with wood particles such as wood chip, fibre dust, polish dust, saw mill and saw dust results in highly agglomerated solid products which have good mechanical resistance and flexibility.
This new agglomeration process is intended to be an alternative to current agglomerates used in cork and wood agglomerates. However in addition it intends in particular to be able to agglomerate particles of a low granulometry and in this way to reprocess sub-products and residues from cork powder, “terras”, sawdust, fibre dust and polish dust from wood agglomerates.
New products are created through this agglomeration process, such as particle agglomerations with up to 95% cork powder and/or “terras”, particle agglomerations with up to 95% sawmill or saw dust and/or fibre dust and/or polish dust. These new agglomerates have good macroscopic characteristics (in relation to the finish quality for use as low granulometry particles) and physical and mechanical properties with a high potential for industrial applications. These products are used for the production of wood agglomerate panels and veneers (wood particles boards) and in the production of cork agglomerates (acoustic and thermal insulation slabs, pavements, skirting boards, notice boards etc) and in the production of mixed agglomerates (wood and cork).
The resulting product from the agglomeration process of particles of wood and cork including the low granulometry particles (less than 0.2 mm, the subject of this invention, can be obtained in the following ways:
.In a continuous production line in an integrated system of mixing, compression and cutting with the injection of reagents and temperature control;
•In a discontinuous production line which includes the mixing and compression phases with temperature control;
•In a discontinuous production line in an individual system of mixing, mould filling, mould compression, greenhouse placement and mould removal.
This process therefore enables the industrial reprocessing and/or optimisation of products, sub-products and residues of sectors of wood and cork and at the same time plays its part in solving environmental problems by creating a viable and profitable alternative to the storage and/or depositing in the ground, especially for cork powder and “terras” classified as industrial residues (Code LER 03 01 99) and some wood residues, in particular fibre and polishing dust.
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Innovative Aspects and Main offer advantages
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The application of this agglomeration process to already existing agglomerates, as a substitution for current agglomerates, results in an improvement in the properties and characteristics of those products, in particular in relation to their mechanical properties and their waterproofing. It must also be noted that in the case of wood particle agglomerates, the agglomeration process of this invention enables formaldehyde-free products to be obtained and it creates an efficient agglomeration that is more or less independent of the nature of the wood chip (wood chip from resin trees such as pine trees or from hardwoods such as eucalyptus or wood chippings with bark), whereas the agglomeration efficiency of current agglomerations is significantly reduced through wood chip from hardwood and wood chip with bark.
The particle agglomeration process of wood and cork sectors, including particles of low granulometry (lower than 0.2 mm), the subject of this invention can be used in the production of particle agglomerations in the following situations:
? Through the separate agglomeration of wood and cork particles;
1. Agglomeration of cork granules and/or cork powder and/of ?terras?;
2. Agglomeration of wood chips and/or saw mill and/or fibre dust and/or polish dust;
? Through the combined agglomeration of wood and cork particles;
1. Mixed agglomerates (homogenous wood and cork particles)
2. Mixed agglomerates (heterogeneous wood and cork particles) in particular consisting of independent wedges of cork and wood agglomerate, aggregated or juxtaposed, for example in a type of ?sandwich? arrangement).
In this sense the particle agglomeration process of wood and cork sectors including low granulometry particles (less than 0.2 mm) - the subject of this invention - may be applied to any type of wood production installation and in particular to wood agglomerates used for the manufacture of panels or boards of particles and the manufacture of veneers, plywood, lamellas and other panels (sub-sector of panels and veneers) plus to the sub-sector of cork agglomerates (in particular in the production of wedges, pavements, supports, thermal and acoustic and anti-vibration insulation, agglomerated frames and bottle corks).
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Development phase
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Development Phase - Laboratory Tested
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Development phase comments
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laboratory tested
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Industrial Property Rights
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Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
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Industrial Property Rights comments
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Portuguese Patent Pending
PCT Pending
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R&D exploitation results
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None
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R&D exploitation results comments
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None
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Collaboration type
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License Agreement
Joint further development
Testing of new applications
Joint Venture Agreement
Transfer of knowledge in new raw materials
New way to use an existing production line
Absolutely novel process
Financial Resources
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Collaboration type comments
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Type of partner sought
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Industry
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Specific area of activity of the partner
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Manufacturing/marketing the products, production of wedges, pavements, supports, thermal and acoustic and anti-vibration insulation, agglomerated frames and bottle corks
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Task to be performed
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to make suitable service/to look for suitable markets for the products in the The entire current market for wood particles agglomerates or particles boards.
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Market Application Highlights
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The probable markets are:
? Products obtained from the cork particles:
a) Construction sector such as in thermal and acoustic insulation slabs, pavements, ceiling insulating slabs, skirting boards, etc.
b) Cork sector itself such as bottle corks of agglomerated material etc.
? Products obtained from cork and/or wood particles:
a) Footwear sector such as for soles, insoles, heels etc.
b) The automotive industry
? Products obtained from wood particles:
The entire current market for wood particles agglomerates or particles boards.
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Organization description
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University
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