SBIR Phase II: Engineered Lumber from Sawmill Residue

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将使低价值的剩余边缘从锯木厂业务转化为结构质量工程木材复合材料称为结构股木材（SSL）。 当圆木被锯成长方形的木材时，在锯木厂就产生了边缘。 SSL的概念是将这些边缘切割成股，定向排列，然后粘合并压缩成高价值的产品。 目前，边缘材料用于纸张生产中使用的低价值木片。 与传统做法相比，SSL工艺将使锯木厂将高达14%的森林原材料转化为结构质量木材。 SSL制造将产生高附加值的木材产品，大大减少浪费，减少对自然资源的需求，并提高锯木厂的运营效率。 这些好处将大大减少锯木厂作业对环境的影响。 第一阶段的研究提供了对关键过程的基本理解，并清楚地表明了SSL概念的可行性。 第二阶段将演示关键SSL组件的操作，并在商业化阶段早期实现制造设施原型演示。如果研究成功，可用于优质结构材料的原木比例将大幅增加。 工程材料的成本与固体高级结构材料相比具有竞争力。 该方法适用于几乎所有在美国和世界各地经营的锯木厂。 这一创新将使现有木材供应得到更有效的利用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will enable conversion of low value residual edgings from sawmill operations into a structural quality engineered wood composite called Structural Strand Lumber (SSL). Edgings are created at sawmills when round logs are sawn into rectangular pieces of lumber. The SSL concept is to cut these edgings into strands, align them directionally, and then glue and compress them into a high value product. Edging material currently is used for low value wood chips for use in paper production. The SSL process will enable sawmills to convert up to 14% more of forest raw materials into structural quality lumber compared to conventional practices. SSL manufacturing will yield a high value added wood product, dramatically reduce waste, reduce demand on natural resources, and increase sawmill operating efficiency. These benefits will reduce dramatically the environmental impacts of sawmill operations. Phase I research provided a fundamental understanding of key processes, and clearly demonstrated the feasibility of the SSL concept. Phase II will demonstrate the operation of critical SSL components, and enable a manufacturing facility prototype demonstration early in the Commercialization Phase.If the research is successful, dramatic increases in the fraction of a log that can be used for quality structural materials will result. The cost of the engineered material will be competitive with solid high-grade structural material. The method is applicable to virtually all sawmills operating in the United States and around the world. More efficient utilization of existing wood supply will be enabled by this innovation.