Dry grinding of waste wood fiberboard: Theoretical and practical aspects affecting the resulting fiber quality

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research on the treatment of secondary wood fibre semi-finished materials using a dry-grinding-type rotary cutting mill and the possibility of their use in finished products for various purposes. The physical phenomena, processes, and regularities of the treatment of secondary wood fibre materials in dry processing conditions were determined and evaluated. The influence of grinding plant design parameters on wood fibre quality indices was evaluated. Mechanical effects on wood fibre waste of face-cross cutting (cutting, crumpling, collapsing, and breaking) and the dry grinding environment (breaking, collision, defibering, and fibrillation) was studied. These phenomena contribute to the formation of external and internal fibrillation of secondary wood fibre and an increase in the specific surface area. This is achieved in the absence of high temperatures and pressure, in the absence of chemical additives, and without the application of water and vapour. The effectiveness of secondary wood fibre semi-finished material treatment was demonstrated under dry processing conditions, thus confirming the environmental and economic feasibility of this method.