Fiber Boards Production from Cynara cardunculus Without Using Synthetic Resins Camilo Mancera Arias Supervisor: Dr. Francesc Ferrando Piera Co- Supervisor: Dr. Joan Salvadó i Rovira

Discussion Topics Discussion Topics Introduction Objectives Work Plan Outline Steam Explosion Pressing Characterization Summary

Introduction Importance of the project Use renewable resources vs fossil resources Increase aggregated value of agricultural residues Construction materials Fiber boards. 1

Cynara cardunculus Wild Artichoke Native from Mediterranean regions. Potentially High energetic properties. Source of Lignocellulosic biomass. Research group projects association 2

Fiber Boards Definition Agglomeration of fibers Adhesives Pressure and Temperature Classification Hard Fiber Boards (800-1000 kg/m3) Medium Density Fiber Boards (600-800 kg/m3) Semi-hard or light fiber boards (350-600 kg/m3) 3

Lignin 4

Objectives Production of fiber boards of commercial quality from Cynara cardunculus with better ecological properties. Particular Chemical characterization Steam explosion Identification and optimization of relevant factors Study of other variables, soft grinding, exogenous lignin, etc. Comparisons 5

Work Plan 6

Lay Out Laboratory Scheme Steam Explosion Operation conditions Water Vapor at 30-40 bars and 160-260 ºC. Residence times of few min. Steam Explosion Reactor Pneumatic Valve How it works… Impregnation Flash Expansion Extractives and Hemicelluloses Dissolution. Fibers Partial Rupture Tank Lay Out Laboratory Scheme 7

Pressing Lignin flow and redistribution Lignin – Fiber chemical bond formation Operation conditions Board properties 8

Characterization of Fiber Boards Mechanical Characterization Modulus of Rupture Modulus of Elasticity Internal Bond Physical Characterization Density Water Absorption Thickness Swelling Chemical Characterization Ashes Lignin Cellulose Hemicelluloses 9

Target Properties Mechanical Properties EU Std Modulus of Rupture ≥ 40 MPa Modulus of Elasticity ≥ 3000 MPa Internal Bond ≥ 0,7 MPa Mechanical Properties M. sinensis Modulus of Rupture = 61,2 MPa Modulus of Elasticity = 7500 MPa Internal Bond = 1,8 MPa Physical Characterization EU Std Density > 800 kg/m3 Water Absorption ≤ 30% Thickness Swelling ≤ 20% Physical Characterization M. sinensis Density = 1100 kg/m3 Water Absorption = 15,3% Thickness Swelling = 5% 10

Summary 11

Ph. D. Student Camilo Mancera Arias Universitat Rovira i Virgili Tarragona, Spain – January 2005 email: camilo.mancera@urv.net 12