Transport Phenomena in Paper and Wood-Based Panels Production

Abstract

1.1 A brief historical perspective of paper and wood-based materials The pulp and paper industry is a vital manufacturing sector that meets the demands of individuals and society. Paper is an essential part of our culture and daily lives, as it is used to store and share information, for packaging goods, personal identification, among other end uses. In an age of computers and electronic communication, paper is still envisaged as one of the most convenient and durable option of data storage, and a material of excellence for artists and writers. It is not surprising that the birth of modern paper and printing industry is commonly marked from the increasing demand for books and important documents in the 15th century. In 2008 the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) reported a global world paper production of 390.9 million tonnes covering a wide range of graphic paper grades, household and sanitary, packaging and other carton board grades (CEPI, 2010). The CEPI member countries account for 25.3% of the world paper and board production, slightly above North America (24.5%) but far behind Asia (40.2%). In volume terms, graphic paper grades account for 48% of the Western European paper production, packaging paper grades for some 41%, and hygiene and utility papers for 11% (CEPI, 2010). Additionally, forecasts indicate that from 1998 to 2015 there will be an increase of 2.8% in the consumption of paper and board globally. It is clear, therefore, that despite the growth of alternatives to paper like electronic media, several paper grades will still play an important role in our lives. Moreover, other materials used in a day-to-day basis derive from wood fibres extracted from a diversity of arboraceous species. As an example, “woodbased panels” (WBP) a general term for a variety of different board products which have an impressive range of engineering properties (Thoemen, 2010) are used in a wide range of applications, from non-structural to structural applications, outdoor and indoor, mostly in construction and furniture, but also in decoration and packaging. The large-scale industrial production of wood composites started with the plywood industry in the late 19th century. A number of new types of wood based panels have been introduced since that time as hardboard, particleboard, Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), Oriented Strand Board (OSB), LVL-Laminated Veneer Lumber and more recently LDF (Light MDF) and HDF (High Density Fibreboard). The production of wood-based panels is still an important part of the