Guide to Wood-Based Composite Materials

The term composite is being used in this course to describe any wood material adhesively bonded together. Wood-based composites encompass a range of products, from fiberboard to laminated beams. Wood-based composites are used for several nonstructural and structural applications in product lines ranging from panels for interior covering purposes to panels for exterior uses and in furniture and support structures in buildings.

The basic element for wood-based composites is the fiber, with larger particles composed of many fibers. Elements used in the production of wood-based composites can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes. Typical elements include fibers, particles, flakes, veneers, laminates, or lumber.

Topics:

• Conventional Wood-Based Composite Panels
• Bonding Adhesives
• Plywood and Particleboard Products
• OSB and Fiberboard Products
• Specialty Composite Materials
• Performance, Specifications, and Standards
• Glulam Timber, Advantages, Types of Glulam Combinations
• Structural Composite Lumber
• Laminated Veneer Lumber
• Laminated Strand Lumber and OSB Lumber
• Parallel Strand Lumber
• Wood–Nonwood Composite Materials
• Wood–Thermoplastic Composite Materials

Publication Source: US Forestry Service, Wood Handbook, Chapter 11, April 2010 Edition