Flake compression behavior in a resinless mat as related to dimensional stability

The purpose of this study was to evaluate compression and swelling characteristics of individual furnish elements sampled through the thickness of lab panels pressed without resin. Commercial southern pine OSB furnish was used to press resinless mats so individual flakes could be removed from the panel after pressing and evaluated for compression behavior. 19 flake sets, each set consisting of 15 southern pine flakes with 0.65% wax, were marked and measured for thickness and mass. One set of marked flakes was randomly distributed in one layer of a mat which consisted of 19 total layers; each of the 19 layers had 15 marked flakes randomly distributed in the layer. After hot pressing each marked flake was removed from the mat. After achieving equilibrium at 35%, 65% and 98% relative humidity, each flake was again remeasured for thickness and mass. Experimental results include flake compaction ratio and its distribution through the mat thickness, flake thickness swelling under different RH environments, compaction ratio-thickness swelling relationship as well as individual flake compaction ratio and thickness swelling variations. Comparison is made to adsorption/desorption behavior of pressed flakes. Flakes from surface layers exhibited compression of 25 to 37%, about double that of flakes in core layers. As expected, flakes from surface layers showed much greater thickness swell than core flakes and the response was accentuated with higher EMC conditions.