Heat transfer model for estimating pinene emissions from hot-pressing softwood flakeboard

Abstract

Abstract A heat transfer model for estimating pinene emissions from hot-pressing strand for the manufacture of flake-board has been constructed from first principles and validated. The model predicts α-pinene emissions of 0.4 kg/1000 kg from a 0.95-cm board, which is within the 0.3–0.6 kg/1000 kg range reported for commercial operations. Most of the emissions originate from the hot 1-mm layer of wood adjoining the platen surface. As a result, residual pinene in the board is depleted at the surface for both commercial and laboratory-prepared boards. Emissions are drastically reduced when the mat is surfaced with a layer of aspen, which prevents the hot platen from directly contacting softwood.