Fiber boards wood laminates

Wood (qv) is arguably the oldest building material used by humans to constmct their dweUings. It is a natural product obtained from trees, used in both stmctural and decorative appHcations. The chemical composition of wood is largely cellulose (qv) and lignin (qv). Today there are a variety of composite or reconstituted wood products, such as plywood, particle board, wood fiber boards, and laminated stmctural beams, where small pieces of wood or wood fiber are combined with adhesives to make larger sheets or boards (see Laminates). 

The variety of wood products has increased enormously over the past decades as more adhesives have been found for bonding. The most important products in terms of volume are plywood, particle board, and fiber board. But adhesively bonded products range from tiny articles of jewelry to giant laminated timbers spanning hundreds of feet (5). The modification of adhesive properties to suit the different application requirements requires a sound understanding of the basic chemistry of adhesives. 

Board, sheets, panels, and other structural materials are manufactured from wood fibers and various other vegetable fibers, from wood particles, and from paper. The industries making these products are not generally classified as chemical industries nevertheless, they are closely related to the chemical industry. Fiberboard manufacture is similar to paper-making particleboards and paper laminates involve the use of synthetic resins and, therefore, chemical technology. 

This specification covers the composition and physical properties of insulating boards composed of wood-fiber insulation board laminated to rigid cellular polystyrene insulation boards, flat or tapered, used principally above structural roof decks for thermal insulation as well as for a base for roofing in building construction. 

Construction Gypsum board joint cement Concrete Paper and film lamination Vinyl flooring Wood doors Glass fiber insulation Bonding facing to fibers... 

Some of the composites have also been in the consumer market for some time. In addition to plywood, homebuilders and furniture makers are making extensive use of particle board (woodchips in a polymer matrix) because of its superior dimensional stability. Often it is laminated to a wood veneer for use as furniture. Decorative vinyl-clad steel or aluminum panels are used in office buildings. Generally, the more advanced composites such fiber-reinforced metals and ceramics have been too expensive for... 

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