Papers Published
Abstract:
Fibers recovered from recycled paper products have desirable mechanical properties and can be used for the manufacture of composite materials. Contrary to their use in papermaking, recycled wood pulp fibers used for composites may require only minimal cleaning and de-inking, thus greatly reducing manufacturing costs. In addition, waste fiber sources which are not used presently could be exploited. In the research presented it is shown that extrusion processing of highly concentrated, aqueous pulp fiber suspensions offers a way to manufacture composite materials which make use of the inherent strength and bonding potential of wood fibers. With this process, fiber composites with mechanical properties comparable to those found in medium density fiberboard and hardboard can be produced continuously. Stiffness loss due to moisture can be controlled by addition of crosslinkable resins, thus offering the possibility to manufacture structural materials with consistent and predictable properties. Tolerance of the extrusion process toward the addition of inorganic materials make it a suitable process for recycling contaminated fibers and papermill sludges.
Keywords:
Waste utilization;Sewage sludge;Extrusion;Recycling;Building materials;Composite materials;Strength of materials;Stiffness;Paper and pulp mills;
The mission of Duke's Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science educational programs is to provide the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to be successful in the practice of engineering; the preparation necessary to undertake professional registration; an educational preparation for graduate or professional study; and an education background that is the basis for professional growth and leadership throughout a career that may encompass a broad range of endeavors, both technical and non-technical.