[Object] To provide a building material having excellent durability.

[Solution] A building material has a convex part formed on a surface thereof, the convex part including a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part corresponding to the first lateral surface part. The building material is formed from a mixture containing a hydraulic material, an admixture, and a plant-based reinforcing material, and the plant-based reinforcing material at least in the convex part is distributed in the mixture with the hydraulic material and the admixture attached to the plant-based reinforcing material. A distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the first lateral surface part and a distribution of the plant-based reinforcing material in the second lateral surface part are substantially the same. Desirably, the convex part includes a first edge part that is an edge part of the first lateral surface part and a second edge part that is an edge part of the second lateral surface part and that corresponds to the first edge part, and a distribution of holes formed in the first edge part and a distribution of holes formed in the second edge part are substantially the same.

A spreader roll for a distributing device for granular material or fibers, the spreader roll having a load-bearing cylindrical core, and being rotatably mountable to a frame of the distributing device. At least part of the outer circumference of the core is provided with a plastics trimming fitted with bristles and/or pins, the plastics trimming being tubular and being non-destructively detachably mounted to the core and secured against rotation.

The invention relates to a material board (1) which comprises a core (2) and a first cover layer (3) and a second cover layer (4), each of which is formed by a mixture (7, 8) formed by lignin-containing particles (5, 6) and binder, which mixture is designed to form a solid body structure in a chemical binding process. The aim is to provide a material panel, which, for ecological and economical reasons, comprises a high proportion of particles based on annual plants and still exhibits good mechanical properties. Another object of the invention can be considered that of ensuring that the system load is kept relatively low during the production process. Another object can be considered that of keeping the proportion of stock removal low. According to the invention, at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% of the particles (5) associated with the mixture (7) of the core (2) are obtained from annual plants, and at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, most preferably at least 90% of the particles (6) associated with the mixtures (8) of the two cover layers (3, 4) are obtained from perennial plants. The invention further relates to the use of a material board and to a method for producing a material board. Finally, the invention relates to a system for producing a material board.

An engineered wood based siding, cladding or panel with a microstrand interface layer (MIL) applied to the top of the main strand matrix layers to minimize telegraphing, add rigidity and strength, and provide an improved surface appearance. The MIL comprises microstrands applied to the surface of the strand matrix or mat during production, prior to deposition of a fines layer. The MIL prevents the loss of fines into the strand matrix, and helps prevent or eliminate strand telegraphing.

A process for producing a smooth-sided strand-based siding or wood structural panel using a secondary pressing process. The secondary pressing process is performed after the primary process completes pressing and consolidation of the substrate/board. The secondary process applies and cures the overlay after applying a water spray on the hot board immediately out of the primary process press, and before overlay application. The application of the water spray causes the surface of the board to swell and cure. A settling period follows to allow the top surface particles and strands to swell along with absorption and evaporation of the moisture. This is followed by surface sanding to remove the telegraphing and produce a smooth surface, which is then followed by lamination of the overlay(s). The process is completed by post-lamination treatment and coating of the board.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a defibrating unit that defibrates a material containing fibers into a defibrated material, and a deposition unit that deposits a defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit. The deposition unit includes a material supply port through which the defibrated material from the defibrating unit is supplied, a plurality of opening ports through which the supplied defibrated material passes, and a dwell area disposed between the material supply port and the opening ports so that the defibrated material temporarily dwells in the dwell area. The dwell area allows the defibrated material to temporarily dwell in the dwell area so that a variation amount of the defibrated material that passes through the opening ports becomes smaller than a variation amount of the defibrated material supplied through the material supply port.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a defibrating unit that defibrates a material containing fibers into a defibrated material, and a deposition unit that deposits a defibrated material defibrated by the defibrating unit. The deposition unit includes a material supply port through which the defibrated material from the defibrating unit is supplied, a plurality of opening ports through which the supplied defibrated material passes, and a dwell area disposed between the material supply port and the opening ports so that the defibrated material temporarily dwells in the dwell area. The dwell area allows the defibrated material to temporarily dwell in the dwell area so that a variation amount of the defibrated material that passes through the opening ports becomes smaller than a variation amount of the defibrated material supplied through the material supply port.

Provided is a strand board with improved strength and water resistance. Reduction in productivity is prevented and characteristics of the strand board can be varied as desired while achieving certain strength and water resistance of the strand board. A strand board B is formed by stacking and laminating five strand layers 1 each formed by a large number of strands 5. The strand board B has substantially constant density distribution in the lamination direction of the strand layers 1. Three of the five strand layers 1 of the strand board B are high-density strand layers 1a having a higher density than the other strand layers 1, and the other strand layers 1 are low-density strand layers 1b.

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a screening unit having first openings for screening a defibrated material that is defibrating-processed; a refining unit that has second openings having sizes equal to or greater than sizes of the first openings and refines the defibrated material passing through the screening unit by causing the defibrated material to pass through the second openings; and a deposition unit on which the defibrated material passing through the refining unit is deposited.

Sheet, board or panel, in particular an OSRB (1)—Oriented Structural Reed Board—comprising a layer of material (2) made up of pressed reeds having a multiplicity of stems which are split predominantly longitudinally, so that it is also the case that the insides of the stems, at least in part, are accessible to a binder, wherein the binder is able to hold together the reeds for forming a solid sheet, board or panel. It is thus possible to provide a biocomposite sheet, board or panel based on sustainable raw materials which has improved properties and strength and requires only a particularly low level of production outlay. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing an OSRB (1).