Utilizing wastepaper secondary fibers in wood fiber composites offers
a potential means to improve recycling efforts. Continued research in
this area is needed to expand recycling opportunities. However, it is
difficult to conduct dry-process secondary fiber composite research at
the laboratory scale because generating dry, individual secondary fib
ers that retain fiber geometry, integrity, and strength is a formidabl
e task. This paper confirms the technical feasibility of generating dr
y, individual fibers with the use of a hydropulper and an in-house-con
structed wet fiber lump separator and dryer. Specific emphasis is devo
ted to construction details of the fiber separator and dryer. Results
of a preliminary study that consolidated secondary fibers from old cor
rugated containers (OCC) with diphenylmethane diisocyanate binder at t
he 3 percent level is also presented to exemplify the technical feasib
ility and quality of OCC hardboards.