SBIR Phase I: A Microwave System for In-Press Curing of Adhesives

* 9760132欧文斯 这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将测试一个系统，用于同时应用压力和微波加热到可固化的木材组件。 传统的固化工艺通过与产品表面接触的加热压板施加热量。 内部区域的固化是缓慢的，因为木材是不良的热导体。 如果压板温度增加超过一定量以增加内部区域的加热，则可能发生产品表面的烧焦和过度固化。 微波能提供更均匀的体积加热和固化，因为它直接并立即转化为整个体积的热量，即使在产品的难以加热的内部区域。 由微波提供的额外的均匀加热功率将可能显著提高生产率，并产生更均匀的固化，从而获得更大的产品强度和改进的质量。 预计在工程木材工业中有潜在的商业应用，其中许多复合材料产品是用热加速粘合剂制造的。 这些产品包括刨花板、纤维板、华夫板、胶合板、单板层积材、定向刨花板和层积梁。

*** 9760132 Owens This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will test a system for simultaneous application of pressure and microwave heating to curable wood assemblies. Conventional curing processes apply heat by means of heated platens, which are in contact with the surface of the product. Curing of the interior regions is slow since wood is a poor thermal conductor. If platen temperatures are increased beyond a certain amount to increase heating of interior regions, scorching and over-curing of the product surface can occur. Microwave energy affords much more uniform volumetric heating and curing, since it is directly and instantly converted to heat throughout a volume, even in the otherwise hard-to-heat interior regions of a product. The additional uniform heating power afforded by microwaves will likely increase production rates substantially and produce more even cures for greater product strength and improved quality. Potential commercial application are expected in the engineered wood industry, where numerous composite products are manufactured with heat-accelerated adhesives. These products include particle board, fiberboard, waferboard, plywood, laminated veneer lumber, oriented strand lumber, and laminated beams ***