Page 22 - Green knowledge 2024

Photo: Lars Sandved Dalen
New eco-friendly wood fibreboards
What if residual materials from the wood processing industry could be used to create new,
environmentally friendly wood fibreboards that are lightweight, insulating, and fire-
resistant? NIBIO’s wood researchers are on the case.
Dr Stephen Amiandamhen at NIBIO is a specialist in
wood-based products and has spent many years
studying wood fibreboards. One of his key objectives
is to encourage more companies to repurpose waste
materials into valuable products such as fibreboards.
“Our industry partners are looking for new applica-
tions for their wood products,” he says.
It all began when Dr Amiandamhen and his col-
leagues sought to test whether wood chips and other
by-products from wood products industries in East-
ern Norway could be combined with a new type of
adhesive to create a more sustainable and fire-resist-
ant fibreboard.
A long-standing challenge in fibreboard production
has been the binding agent—the adhesive that holds
the wood fibres together, as in particle boards. Tradi-
tional adhesives are often both environmentally
harmful and energy-intensive to produce. Manufac-
turing fibreboards like MDF or particle board typi-
cally requires large amounts of glue, which usually
contains formaldehyde. The goal is to develop fibre-
boards using formaldehyde-free adhesives that
require less energy in production, leading to a lower
environmental and climate footprint.
In addition to being lightweight and good insulators,
it is crucial that the fibreboards are also fire-retard-
ant.
The new fibreboards have been named PhosBoard.
Researchers at NIBIO are working closely with
industry partners, aiming to provide innovative,
high-quality solutions for the wood processing
industry.
PhosBoard panels are more sustainable, as they
incorporate renewable materials and require less
energy to produce. Additionally, PhosBoard contrib-
utes to better indoor air quality. Without formalde-
hyde, air pollution is reduced, creating a healthier
work environment.
Purpose: Collaboration: Funding: Contact: To develop new, eco-friendly fibreboards that are lightweight, insulating, and fire-retardant.
Ard Innovation, SmartPanel AS, Nordic Door AS, Tarkett AS, Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS
The Research Council of Norway
Research Scientist Stephen Amiandamhen, Division of Forest and Forest Resources.
Email: stephen.amiandamhen@nibio.no | Phone: +47 413 63 419
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