Wood Composites: Mineral-Bonded

Abstract

Mineral-bonded composites are composed of materials which combine wood particles or fibers with minerals such as Portland cement, magnesite cements, and gypsum to produce products like siding, roof shakes and shingles, tiles, slates, fencing, cladding, tile backer boards, subflooring, and building blocks. These composites use not only virgin wood fibers and particles, they can also utilize such waste resources as newspapers, magazines, and other solid wastes. In these composites, fibers or particles are held together by the mineral ‘matrix’ generating products that are often water resistant and durable in outdoor applications. Almost all are either fireproof or highly fire-resistant. They combine the characteristics of their component parts, namely wood particles or fibers and the mineral matrix.