Fiber Boards Production

from Cynara cardunculus

Without Using Synthetic Resins

Camilo Mancera Arias

Supervisor: Dr. Francesc Ferrando Piera

Co- Supervisor: Dr. Joan Salvadó i Rovira

Objectives

Work Plan

Introduction

Outline

Steam Explosion

Pressing

Characterization

Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics

Summary

Introduction

1

Importance of the project

• Use renewable resources vs fossil resources

• Increase aggregated value of agricultural residues

• Construction materials Fiber boards.

2

Cynara cardunculus

• Wild Artichoke

• Native from Mediterranean

regions.

• Potentially High energetic

properties.

• Source of Lignocellulosic

biomass.

• Research group projects

association

Fiber Boards

3

Definition

• Agglomeration of fibers

• Adhesives

• Pressure and Temperature

Classification

• Hard Fiber Boards (800-1000 kg/m3)

• Medium Density Fiber Boards (600-800 kg/m3)

• Semi-hard or light fiber boards (350-600 kg/m3)

Lignin

4

5

Objectives

Production of fiber boards of commercial quality from

Cynara cardunculus with better ecological properties.

Particular

• Chemical characterization

• Steam explosion

• Identification and optimization of

relevant factors

• Study of other variables, soft

grinding, exogenous lignin, etc.

• Comparisons

Work Plan

6

SteamExplosion

Pressing

PhysicalCharacterization

ChemicalCharacterization

MechanicalCharacterization

StatisticalAnalysis

Collect and Cleanthe Material

Steam Explosion

7

Operation conditions

•Water Vapor at 30-40 bars

and 160-260 ºC.

• Residence times of few min.

How it works…

• Impregnation

• Flash Expansion

• Extractives and

Hemicelluloses Dissolution.

• Fibers Partial Rupture

Lay Out Laboratory Scheme

Steam

Explosion

Reactor

Pneumatic

Valve

Tank

Pressing

8

• Lignin flow and redistribution

• Lignin – Fiber chemical bond formation

• Operation conditions Board properties

Characterization of Fiber Boards

Mechanical Characterization

• Modulus of Rupture

• Modulus of Elasticity

• Internal Bond

Chemical Characterization

• Ashes

• Lignin

• Cellulose

• Hemicelluloses

Physical Characterization

• Density

• Water Absorption

• Thickness Swelling

9

Target Properties

Mechanical Properties EU Std

• Modulus of Rupture ≥ 40 MPa

• Modulus of Elasticity ≥ 3000 MPa

• Internal Bond ≥ 0,7 MPa

Physical Characterization

EU Std

• Density > 800 kg/m3

• Water Absorption ≤ 30%

• Thickness Swelling ≤ 20%

Mechanical Properties M. sinensis

• Modulus of Rupture = 61,2 MPa

• Modulus of Elasticity = 7500 MPa

• Internal Bond = 1,8 MPa

Physical Characterization

M. sinensis

• Density = 1100 kg/m3

• Water Absorption = 15,3%

• Thickness Swelling = 5%

10

Summary

11

LiteratureReview

ExperimentalDesign

AnalyticalMethods

ProjectDesign

Project Outline

SteamExplosion

Pressing

Physical,Mechanical and

ChemicalChareacterizations

StatisticalAnalysis

CommunicationDEA

12

Ph. D. Student Camilo Mancera Arias

Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Tarragona, Spain – January 2005

email: camilo.mancera@urv.net