Production of composite wood-strand panels for construction applications

Unmet Need: Enhanced performance and longevity of construction wood

A challenge with current thin, wood-based construction panels is their performance and longevity when exposed to high moisture environments. Moisture infiltration and accumulation over time, poor maintenance, window and roof leaks, or condensation and plumbing leaks can render these products susceptible to biodegradation due to fungal decay or deformations such as cupping and warping, leading to performance degradation and undesirable visual defects.

The Technology: Thermally modifying composite wood-strand panels.

Inventors have developed a method of converting small-diameter timber into significantly more durable and dimensionally stable wood-strand composites. A specifically designed thermal modification of strands is proposed to control their decay resistance as well as their brittleness combined with laminated thin-strand composite technology to manufacture a strand composite product that can be customized for building construction applications.

Applications:

• Construction materials for siding and flooring applications.

Advantages:

• Durable and high-performing composites for building materials.

• Improved performance on exposure to high-moisture environments.

Patent Information:

Non-provisional patent application has been filed.