Arundo donax composite panel

Abstract

Composite panels and pulp, and paper products of the pulp, are produced from Arundo donax. In the fabrication of the composite panels, Arundo donax is comminuted to a suitable size, combined with a binder, and consolidated into panels that meet standards for construction and/or furniture grade panels. The Arundo donax particulates may be combined with wood particulates to produce a mixed furnish that can be used in the preparation of composite panels. Comminuted Arundo donax is treated, in conventional pulping processes, to produce a high tensile strength pulp that can be used in the production of paper. The pulp has a lighter color than wood pulp, and thereby uses less bleaching chemicals to achieve a desired whiteness. The pulp can be combined with wood pulp to produce a variety of products.

1 - 45 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         46 . An  Arundo donax  composite panel, the composite comprising: 
 (a) a binder resin; and    (b)  Arundo donax  particles bonded into a contiguous material with the resin;    wherein the composite meets at least the M-3 standard for composite panels.    
     
     
         47 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel comprises from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of a resin binder based on the total weight of the panel.  
     
     
         48 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel comprises from about 1.5 to about 3.0 percent by weight of a resin binder based on the total weight of the panel.  
     
     
         49 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of methyl diisocyanate, urea-formaldehyde, phenolic, and inorganic binders.  
     
     
         50 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the  Arundo donax  furnish further comprises wood fibers.  
     
     
         51 . The panel of  claim 46  having from about 10% to about 90% by weight  Arundo donax  based on the total weight of the panel.  
     
     
         52 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a bending strength that is increased proportionally relative to the amount of  Arundo donax  in the panel compared to a wood-based panel.  
     
     
         53 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a moisture resistance that is increased proportionally relative to the amount of  Arundo donax  in the panel compared to a wood-based panel.  
     
     
         54 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a bending strength that is at least about 55% greater than a similarly constituted wood-based panel.  
     
     
         55 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a moisture resistance that is about 2.6 times greater than a similarly constituted wood-based panel.  
     
     
         56 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a bending strength that is about 5% greater than a similarly constituted wheatstraw-based panel.  
     
     
         57 . The panel of  claim 46  wherein the panel has a moisture resistance that is 15% greater than a similarly constituted wheatstraw-based panel.  
     
     
         58 . A method of manufacturing an  Arundo donax  composite panel, the method comprising: 
 (a) comminuting  Arundo donax  into particles of a size distribution suitable for use as furnish in a composite panel;    (b) mixing the particles with a binder to provide a binder-particle mixture; and    (c) consolidating the binder-particle mixture into a composite panel.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the particle-binder mixture further comprises wood particles.