A LABORATORY SYSTEM FOR GENERATING INDIVIDUAL DRY SECONDARY WOOD FIBERS

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.