Method for molding articles having non-planar portions from matted wood flakes

Inventors

Bruce A. Haataja
Tauno B. Kilpela
Anders E. Lund
James F. Hamilton

Files

Abstract

An article having non-planar portions, such as a pallet having a substantially flat deck member and a plurality of hollow leg members projecting integrally from the deck member, is molded as a one-piece unit from a loosely-felted, layered mat formed from a mixture of a resinous particle board binder and flake-like wood particles. The wood flakes have an average length of about 11/4 to about 6 inches, preferably about 2 to about 3 inches, an average thickness of about 0.005 to about 0.075 inch, preferably about 0.015 to about 0.025 inch, and an average width of 3 inches or less and no greater than the average length. Each layer of wood flakes in the mat lie substantially flat on a plane generally parallel to the major plane thereof and are randomly oriented to each other. The mat is placed between the male and female dies of a mold or press and compressed therein to substantially the desired shape under temperature and pressure conditions sufficient to bond the flakes together.

Patent Number

4,440,708

Assignee

Board of Control of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.

Application Number

334,267

Date Filed

12-24-1981

Certificate of Correction

No

Issue Date

4-3-1984

Disciplines

Engineering | Materials Science and Engineering

Comments

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Recommended Citation

Haataja, Bruce A.; Kilpela, Tauno B.; Lund, Anders E.; and Hamilton, James F., "Method for molding articles having non-planar portions from matted wood flakes" (1984). Michigan Tech Patents. 30.
https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/30