Lignocellulosic composites

Abstract

Lignocellulosic-based woodfiber-plastic composite products containing a pesticidal amount of calcium borate is resistant to attack by wood destroying fungi and insects. The preferred calcium borates are the calcium polytriborates having a CaO:B2O3 molar ratio of about 2:3 and calcium hexaborates, having a CaO:B2O3 ratio of 1:3. Composites can be produced by combining the calcium borate with particles of the lignocellulosic material and the thermoplastic resin binder, and heating and extruding the resultant mixture through a die to form the composite product.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to composites and more particularly, this invention relates to lignocellulosic-based composite products which are resistant to insect and fungal attack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Due to recent changes in the species, size and quality of standing timber available for harvest throughout the world, composites of lignocellulosic materials have replaced traditional solid sawn lumber for use in many structural applications. Many of these composites are used in applications which require resistance to wood-destroying organisms such as fungi and various insects. Accordingly, this requires treatment with a wood preservative.

[0004] Traditionally, solid wood products are dipped or pressure treated with solutions of preservative chemicals. However, the nature of a composite material makes it possible to incorporate a preservative into the product during its manufacture. This decreases total production costs and yields a superior product in which the composite has a constant loading of preservative throughout its thickness.

[0005] Borates have been used as broad-spectrum wood preservatives for over 50 years. Their benefits include efficacy against most wood destroying organisms such as fungi, termites and wood-boring beetles. Coupled with their low acute mammalian toxicity and low environmental impact, their fungicidal and insecticidal properties have resulted in them being considered the wood preservative of choice for most structural or construction applications. Borates such as boric acid, borax, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (sold as TIM-BOR® wood preservative, a product of U.S. Borax Inc.) and, more recently, zinc borate are well accepted as wood preservatives. Generally, boric acid, borax and disodium octaborate are used for treating solid, wood products by dip or pressure treatment. However, these preservatives are readily soluble in water and can be incompatible with many resin systems used in producing composite products, resulting in an adverse effect on the internal bond strength of the resultant composites and poor mechanical strength. Anhydrous borax and zinc borate have been used successfully at relatively low levels with some resin systems, such as the phenol-formaldehyde resins, to produce composites with acceptable internal bond strength. See Knudson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,083. Although the low solubility borates of Knudson et al, especially zinc borate, have been used successfully to treat wood composites such as oriented strand board (OSB), fiberboard, waferboard and particleboard, they suffer from several problems in actual commercial use. For example, in working with composites containing zinc borate, metal tools, such as saws, grinders and similar cutting tools may suffer significant wear and premature failure due to the borate's hardness. Also, the disposal of treated wood products by combustion can lead to problems in operating performance and maintenance of furnaces. It has also been found that particulate zinc borate used to treat wood composites has poor bulk flow properties which can cause difficulties in the wood composite manufacturing process.

[0006] The increased demand for treated wood composite products has resulted in a large volume utilization of borates in high capacity wood composite manufacture. Due to the very high volume throughput of commercial wood composite manufacturing facilities combined with the practice that waste wood is utilized as an energy source for wood particle drying as part of the process, an excessive build up of glassy borate deposits can occur within the furnaces. This will reduce the operating performance of the furnace as well as corrode the refractories of the furnace. In addition, the glassy borate deposits can be very difficult to remove from the furnace. See Daniels and Krapas, “Combustion Characteristics of Zinc Borate-Impregnated OSB Wood Waste in an Atmospheric Fluidized Bed,” 32nd International Particleboard/Composite Materials Symposium Proceedings, March 31-Apr. 2, 1998, page 167 (1998).

[0007] Another type of lignocellulosic-based composite which can benefit from this invention are woodfiber-plastic composites. These composites, which are derived from wood and thermoplastic resin, are typically used in exterior applications such as decks and walkways. When used in exterior applications these products are subject to attack by mold and decay fungi. See Morris et al., “Recycled plastic/wood composite lumber attacked by fungi,” Composites and Manufactured Products, January 1998, pages 86-88; Mankowski et al., “Patterns of fungal attack in wood-plastic composites following exposure in a soil block test,” Wood and Fiber Science, 32(3), 2000, pp. 340-345; and Verhey et al., “Laboratory decay resistance of woodfiber/thermoplastic composites,” Composites and Manufactured Products, September 2001, pages 44-49. Unlike solid wood, these woodfiber-plastic composite products cannot be pressure-treated with preservatives and it is only possible to introduce the preservative treatment during the manufacture of the composite

[0008] This invention provides composites made from wood and other lignocellulosic materials which are resistant to attack by wood destroying organisms such as fungi and insects, have excellent internal bonding strength and may readily be cut, sawn and machined without excessive wear to the tools. Further, trimmings and other waste from manufacture and use of the treated composites may be disposed of by combustion without significant problems such as clogging and deterioration of the furnaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to this invention, a pesticidal amount of a calcium borate is incorporated prior to forming a lignocellulosic-based composite, thereby producing composites which are resistant to insect and fungal attack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The lignocellulosic-based composites of this invention are produced by well known procedures by combining particles of the lignocellulosic material with an adhesive binder and forming the composite. The calcium borate is incorporated, such as by adding to the lignocellulosic particles and/or binder, prior to forming the composite. The calcium borates are considered to have a low impact on the environment, with low mammalian toxicity, resulting in relatively safe use and disposal. They are effective fungicidal and insecticidal compounds that are relatively inexpensive, easy to store, handle and use. For example, the calcium borates have much better flowability than many other similar borates. Further, the calcium borates have some water solubility, providing rapid and continuing pesticidal activity in composites subject to exposure to low moisture environments in uses such as structural siding.

[0011] Lignocellulosic-based composites are of two basic types, depending on the nature of the adhesive resin binder used. The two basic types of binders are thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins. Thermosetting resins undergo a chemical reaction when heated, causing the resin to set or harden. Thermoplastic resins do not react chemically in response to heat, but rather soften and become plastic or pliable. Consequently, the method of forming lignocellulosic-based composites is dependent on the type of resin binder used.

[0012] The method of forming cellulosic-based composites using thermosetting resins is well known and has resulted in many products, including particleboard, oriented strand board (OSB), waferboard, fiberboard (including medium-density and high-density fiberboard), parallel strand lumber (PSL), laminated strand lumber (LSL), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and similar products. Examples of suitable cellulosic materials include wood, straw (including rice, wheat and barley), flax, hemp and bagasse. The small fractions of cellulosic material can be in any processed form such as chips, flakes, fibers, strands, wafers, trim, shavings, sawdust, straw, stalks and shives.

[0013] The methods for manufacturing thermosetting resin-based composites are well known and the specific procedure will be dependent on the cellulosic raw material and the type of composite desired. However, generally the cellulosic material is processed into fractions or particles of appropriate size, which may be called a furnish, mixed with an adhesive binder and the resultant mixture is formed into the desired configuration such as a mat, and then formed, usually under pressure and with heat, into the final product. The process could be considered an essentially dry process; that is, generally, no water is added to form a slurry of the materials (other than any water that may be used as a carrier for liquid resins).

[0014] The thermosetting resin binder is preferably an adhesive resin which is cured with heat to give a strong bond between the cellulosic particles or fractions and provide structural composites with high mechanical strength. Such heat-cured adhesive resins are well known and include the formaldehyde- and isocyanate-based resins. Phenol-formaldehyde, phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, melamine-urea-formaldehyde and diphenylmethanediiso-cyanate are examples of suitable heat-cured resins in current use. The preferred levels of binder can typically range from about 1.5% to about 15%, but may be as low as 0.5% or as high as 25% for some composites, depending on a variety of constraints such as the particle size of the furnish and the strength and durability required of the finished wood composite. For example, structural quality OSB would typically contain between about 1.5% and 7% binder, whereas structural quality particle board may require up to 15 to 20% binder or more and medium density fiberboard (MDF) with low strength and durability requirements, such as pegboard, may contain less than 1%. Unlike many borates that have been used in the past to preserve cellulosic-based composites, the calcium borates of the present invention may be used successfully, without adverse effect on the binder or on the mechanical strength of the composite product.

[0015] Woodfiber-thermoplastic composite products contain higher levels of binder than thermosetting resin composites. Typical thermoplastic resin binder levels are between 30% and 70% of the total composite weight, with the remainder of the substrate comprising wood particles (30-60%), lubricants (1-5%) and other processing additives which are used to help improve the physical properties of the product. The thermoplastic resin binder softens upon heating making it pliable or plastic and therefore suitable for shaping, such as by extrudion. Some commonly used thermoplastic resins include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). High density polyethylene (HDPE) a preferred thermoplastic resin.

[0016] The woodfiber-plastic composite products are typically manufactured by mixing together all of the components and then heating the mixture above 100° F., e.g. up to about 400° F., in a device capable of additional mixing, such as a twin screw mixer, followed by extrusion through a die, which may impart a specific cross-sectional profile to the woodfiber-plastic composite) and then cooling in a water bath. The method of forming woodfiber-plastic composites is well known and is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,516,472 (May 14, 1996), 5,745,958 (May 5, 1998) and 6,153,293 (Nov. 28, 2000), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0017] The calcium borates which can be used in the method of this invention may be any of the borate compounds containing calcium, boron and oxygen. Optionally, other metallic elements, such as magnesium and sodium, may also be a part of the calcium borate molecule, i.e. calcium-sodium borates and calcium-magnesium borates. The preferred calcium borates are the calcium polytriborates, having a CaO:B2O3 ratio of 2:3, and calcium hexaborates, having a CaO:B2O3 ratio of 1:3, with the most preferred being the calcium polytriborates. Such calcium polytriborates may be synthetically produced or may be a naturally occurring borate, such as inyonite, meyerhofferite and colemanite. Examples of suitable calcium hexaborates include nobleite and gowerite. Calcium-sodium borates and calcium-magnesium borates include probertite, ulexite and hydroboracite.

[0018] The particle size of the calcium borate is not critical, but should obviously be of a size that can be readily dispersed throughout the composite product. Generally, a mean particle size of as large as about 500 microns and as small as about 1 micron may be used, but for best results, it is preferred that the particle size be in the range of from about 150 microns to about 10 microns.

[0019] The amount of calcium borate incorporated in the composite is a pesticidal amount; that is, an amount sufficient to control or kill fungi and/or insects that destroy wood and similar cellulosic-based composites products. Generally, in lignocellulosic composites based on thermosetting resin systems a range of from about 0.1 to about 4 percent by weight of calcium borate, based on the total weight of the composite product is used to control pests. The amount used will depend on the target pests, desired performance longevity and the expected level of precipitation exposure. Preferably, from about 0.5 to about 2 percent is used for optimum performance against both decay fungi and termites. The amount of calcium borate required in a woodfiber-plastic composite to impart protection ranges from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of the composite, and is preferably in the range of about 1% to about 3% by weight.

[0020] The calcium borate may be incorporated in the composite in any manner that will result in dispersion throughout the final product. In the case of wood-based composites, it may be mixed with the wood particles, or famish, prior to mixing with the resin or it may be added to the resin or wood-resin mixture. For a thermosetting resin composite the calcium borate-containing wood-resin mixture is then formed into a mat for pressing, heating and curing to produce the final composite. Preferably, the calcium borate is evenly distributed on wood particles such as chips or strands in order to ensure maximum contact between the wood particles and the preservative, then the resin is applied and the wood furnish is spread evenly onto plates or an endless belt (conveyor belt), forming a mat to be pressed into its final thickness. Heat is applied to cure the resin and form the final composite product. The wood furnish may contain optional amounts of additives, such as slack wax or flow agents, if desired, to aid in processing or performance, but are not essential. In the case of a woodfiber/thermoplastic resin composite, the calcium borate-containing wood-resin mixture is mixed and heated and extruded to form the woodfiber-plastic composite.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0021] Wood flakeboard was manufactured by conventional wood processing techniques, incorporating various borates at a range of concentrations, from 0.5 to 2.0% boric acid equivalent (BAE). Boric acid (H3BO3) equivalent is a commonly used convention for comparing various borates on an equivalent contained-boron basis. For each borate/loading combination, fifteen pounds of aspen (Populus tremuloides) furnish having an average particle size of about 2.5×0.75×0.025 inches, was blended with 0.75 pounds (5%) Rubinate 1840 (product of ICI), a polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate adhesive, 0.11 pounds (0.75%) of Cascowax EW 403HS (product of Borden) and various concentrations of nine test borates. For each borate/loading combination, three 18″×18″ composite boards of 0.5 inch thickness were formed by pressing for 210 seconds at (180 seconds pressure, 30 seconds pressure release) at 204.5° C. (the pressure was kept in excess of 6000 psi during the pressure cycle). Each board was trimmed to 15″×15″ and cut to produce internal bond and analytical/soil block specimens for evaluation. Replicates were cut from the inner portion of the boards. Four internal bond, two leaching panels and twenty analytical/soil block specimen s were cut from each board.

[0022] The panels to be leached (4.5″×4.5″) were edge sealed with an epoxy sealant and leached for two weeks. Leaching began with pressure treatment of the specimens with water for 30 minutes under vacuum and one hour under pressure. The specimens were removed from the pressure treatment chamber and the residual water was changed after two hours, then daily for the remainder of the leaching period. Afterward, they were trimmed to remove the sealed edges and cut into analytical/soil block test samples. Unleached and leached analytical/soil block samples for each board type were separately randomized. Fifteen were analyzed for borate content and ten were retained for the soil block decay test.

[0023] Dry internal bond, a measure of bonding strength, was determined in accordance with AS™ Standard D1037. The test data showed that the various borates had little or no effect on the internal bond of the test panels.

[0024] The soil block test was conducted in accordance with AWPA E10-87, with the exception that soil block dimensions were 1.0″×1.0″×0.5.″ The fungi used were Gloeophyllumum trabeum (ATCC 11539) for brown rot test and Trametes versicolor (MAD 697) for white rot test. An untreated composite control was run both unleached and leached. Solid southern yellow pine and birch were also run as unleached controls against G. trabeum and T. versicolor, respectively as a test of fungal vigor.

[0025] The following results were obtained:

TABLE 1a
SOIL BLOCK TEST RESULTS
Target Loading - 0.5% BAE (0.09% B)
			UNLEACHED		LEACHED
	Active		Mean % Wt. Loss		Mean % Wt. Loss
Active	Ingredient	Assay	G.	T.	Assay	G.	T.
Ingredient*	(% Added)	% B	trabeum	versicolor	% B	trabeum	versicolor
Ulexite	0.77	0.09	1.4	13.9	0.03	6.6	22.3
Colemanite (1)	0.66	0.10	0.6	3.9	0.03	5.5	27.5
Colemanite (2)	0.66	0.09	0.8	5.1	0.04	3.4	19.9
Nobleite	0.45	0.09	1.1	5.3	0.03	5.4	27.6
Hydroboracite	0.48	0.09	1.1	2.8	0.05	9.4	27.1
Gowerite	0.47	0.11	0.9	5.5	0.04	7.4	24.7
Zinc Borate	0.58	0.10	0.9	8.3	0.05	2.3	22.9
Boric Oxide (60 m)	0.29	0.07	1.6	7.6	0.02	8.0	50.4
Boric Oxide (4 m)	0.29	0.09	2.6	7.5	0.02	15.5	34.3
Untreated Aspen	0	—	24.5	53.2	—	16.9	51.4
Untreated SSYP	0	—	37.6	—	—	—	—
Untreated SB	0	—	—	64.6	—	—	—

[0026]

TABLE 1b
SOIL BLOCK TEST RESULTS
Target Loading - 1.0% BAE (0.17% B)
			UNLEACHED		LEACHED
	Active		Mean % Wt. Loss		Mean % Wt. Loss
Active	Ingredient	Assay	G.	T.	Assay	G.	T.
Ingredient*	(% Added)	% B	trabeum	versicolor	% B	trabeum	versicolor
Ulexite	1.56	0.18	0.8	3.4	0.08	1.0	11.0
Colemanite (1)	1.31	0.18	1.0	3.7	0.07	1.5	8.4
Colemanite (2)	1.31	0.15	0.6	2.3	0.08	1.6	5.1
Nobleite	0.91	0.16	1.0	3.6	0.06	1.4	11.6
Hydroboracite	0.96	0.11	1.0	3.6	0.06	4.2	21.0
Gowerite	0.96	0.18	0.9	3.1	0.07	5.8	14.7
Zinc Borate	1.17	0.17	0.8	2.9	0.10	0.9	7.0
Boric Oxide (60 m)	0.58	0.13	0.7	3.6	0.03	6.0	35.8
Boric Oxide (4 m)	0.58	0.10	1.4	9.0	0.04	7.4	29.5
Untreated Aspen	0	—	24.5	53.2	—	16.9	51.4
Untreated SSYP	0	—	37.6	—	—	—	—
Untreated SB	0	—	—	64.6	—	—	—

[0027]

TABLE 1c
SOIL BLOCK TEST RESULTS
Target Loading - 2.0% BAE (0.35% B)
			UNLEACHED		LEACHED
	Active		Mean % Wt. Loss		Mean % Wt. Loss
Active	Ingredient	Assay	G.	T.	Assay	G.	T.
Ingredient*	(% Added)	% B	trabeum	versicolor	% B	trabeum	versicolor
Ulexite	3.06	0.35	1.8	3.0	0.11	1.3	7.2
Colemanite (1)	2.62	0.29	1.5	2.4	0.19	1.0	2.5
Colemanite (2)	2.62	0.31	1.1	2.2	0.18	1.3	2.2
Nobleite	1.82	0.33	1.4	2.6	0.09	1.5	10.1
Hydroboracite	1.92	0.25	2.2	2.2	0.13	1.8	4.5
Gowerite	1.91	0.24	1.3	2.6	0.09	3.1	11.8
Zinc Borate	2.34	0.31	1.0	1.6	0.23	0.8	2.0
Boric Oxide (60 m)	1.16	0.31	1.1	3.7	0.07	3.3	23.2
Boric Oxide (4 m)	1.16	0.26	1.7	2.9	0.09	3.0	9.5
Untreated Aspen	0	—	24.5	53.2	—	16.9	51.4
Untreated SSYP	0	—	37.6	—	—	—	—
Untreated SB	0	—	—	64.6	—	—	—
* Colemanite (1) grade - 41.9% B2O3 (Glass Grade)
Colemanite (2) grade - 37.8% B2O3
Boric Oxide (60 m) - 60 mesh
Boric Oxide (4 m) - 4 mesh
SSYP - solid southern yellow pine
SB - solid birch

[0028] As the above results show, the calcium borates were generally effective at controlling Gloeophyllum trabeum and Trametes versicolor, and the calcium polytriborate, (Colemanite (1) and (2)), was roughly comparable to zinc borate in the tests against both types of fungi after leaching. However, as pointed out above, the calcium borates have several advantages over zinc borate, such as in the combustion of waste wood products, as illustrated in Example 2, below.

Example 2

[0029] Aspen wafer oriented strand board (OSB) bonded with polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate adhesive resin was prepared according to the procedure of Example 1 with boric oxide (B203), calcium polytriborate and zinc borate as borate additives. The test boards had a thickness of about 13 mm and test samples were chosen to have a loading of 1.8% boric acid equivalent, on a dry weight basis. The test boards were sawn into sections of approximately 20 mm×100 mm and then burned in approximately 100 g. sample sizes in a platinum crucible in a furnace. The temperature was ramped up from 0 to 800° C. in hourly 200° C. intervals, and then at 100° C. intervals to 1000° C. Specific observations were made over this period, with particular attention being given to 600, 800, 900, and 1000° C. as being those known to be encountered in commercial high temperature wood burning furnaces. Weight of the remaining char after 8 hours combustion was also recorded.

[0030] All samples burned and reasonably maintained their original form, but were reduced in size and turned totally to a black char mass. Mass loss then continued, probably as CO2.

[0031] The board containing boric oxide produced a transparent liquid exudate, at approximately 600° C. from the remaining char. At 800° C. it continued to be produced and stuck to the sides of the crucible in glassy-like sticky deposits, a problem that continued over the higher temperatures tested. At the end of the burn, the remaining ash and char mass was difficult to break up and difficult to remove from the crucible. The crucible was also almost completely lined with a thin glaze.

[0032] The zinc borate-containing board produced exactly the same transparent liquid glass-like exudate, although this did not occur until a temperature of about 800° C. was reached, and appeared most dramatic at 900° C. At the end of the burn, the remaining ash and char mass was difficult to break up and very difficult to remove from the crucible. A white powder deposit was also found around the rim of the crucible and this was found to be zinc oxide that must have been deposited from a volatile phase.

[0033] The calcium borate containing board was dissimilar to the other two borates tested. At 800° C. a fine white ash appeared at the surface of char mass, and this replaced the liquid exudate seen with the other borates during the burn. At the end of the burn, the remaining ash and char mass was easy to break up and to remove from the crucible.

[0034] The results are summarized in the following Table 2.

	TABLE 2
	ADDITIVE
Observations at	Boric Oxide	Zinc Borate	Calcium Borate
600° C.	Glassy exudate	Char only	Char only
800° C.	Glassy exudate	Glassy exudate	Char and white
	sticking to sides		ash
900° C.	Glassy exudate	Glassy exudate	Char and white
	sticking to sides	sticking to sides	ash
1000° C.	Glassy exudate	Glassy exudate	Char and white
	sticking to sides	sticking to sides and	ash. Slight
		white powder	glassing
		deposit
Ash and Char	Glassy Ash and solid	Glassy Ash and	Loose ash and
characteristics	charcoal. Difficult to	solid charcoal.	charcoal
	remove from crucible.	Difficult to remove
	Crucible also thinly	from crucible.
	glass lined

[0035] It is apparent that the three different borates have the ability to form a glassy phase but that this is temperature dependent. At normal furnace operating temperatures (600°-900° C.) both the boric oxide and the zinc borate are known to cause problems with combustion zone lining, combustion air injection and ash removal. Yet, at these temperature, it was shown that the use of the calcium borate would alleviate all three of the major problems.

[0036] Other beneficial uses for waste wood products containing calcium borate include grinding to small particles and using as a boron supplement in agricultural plant foods, or as a mulch in landscaping. The residual calcium borate will contribute the micronutrient boron as well as, provide a small amount of alkali as calcium. Waste wood products containing zinc borate cannot easily be used in such boron fertilizer applications because of the higher potential for phytotoxicity by the zinc.

[0037] An additional advantage of producing composite wood products with the calcium borate additives in place of conventionally used zinc borate is that the calcium borates have much better flow properties, making them easier to store and handle in processing equipment. The following example compares the flow properties of zinc borate with representative calcium borates, including nobleite, synthetic calcium hexaborate, and colemanite, naturally occurring calcium polytriborate in the form of a processed ore. Colemanite F is a grade containing 37.8% B2O3 and Colemanite, Glass Grade a grade that contains 42.9% B2O3.

Example 3

[0038] Bulk solids flow testing was done using the J. R. Johanson Indicizer System, including a Hang-up Indicizer and Hopper Indicizer, manufactured by J R Johanson, Inc. 712 Fiero Lane #37, San Luis Obispo, Calif. 93401. The test procedures are described in detail in their company literature (BULK SOLIDS INDICES TESTING, Hang-up Indicizer™ Instruction Manual© JR Johanson, Inc. 1991 and BULK SOLIDS INDICES TESTING, Hopper Indicizer™ Instruction Manual© J R Johanson, Inc. 1991). The results are presented in the following Table 3 as the Arching Index, Ratholing Index, Hopper Index and Chute Index, which are the average of several tests (3-6). The meaning and usefulness of these flow indices in evaluating the flow properties of bulk solids are also described in literature from J R Johanson, Inc., including Binside Scoop™, Vol. 7, No. 2, Fall 1994, Binside Scoop™, Vol. 8, No. 3, Winter 1995, and “Bulk solids Flow Indices—A Simplified Evaluation system”, by Jerry R. Johanson, © J R Johanson, 1991.

[0039] Arching Index—A tendency of a cohesive material is to plug up the opening of a bin by forming an “arch” over the discharge opening. The arching index is given as a multiple of the discharge opening, so less than 1 is necessary for free flow. Numbers greater than 1 reflect a need to enlarge the opening.

[0040] Ratholing Index—A tendency of a cohesive material is to hang up on the sides of a bin while an open hole forms in the center and flow ceases. Rathole indices are also given as a multiple of the discharge opening and a number of less than 1 is necessary for free flow. Numbers greater than 1 mean the bins should be redesigned.

[0041] Hopper Index—The maximum angle, measured in degrees from the vertical, that is required for the conical portion of a hopper in order to produce reliable mass flow. A larger number is better.

[0042] Chute Index—The minimum angle, measured in degrees from horizontal, required for flow down a chute and to prevent material buildup at impact areas. A smaller number is better. Chute indices may often be close to the angle of repose.

[0043] Both hopper and chute indices measurements involve friction over a specified surface and measurements are made using substrates of the material of construction. The substrates used for these tests are 304-2B Stainless Steel, aged carbon steel and Tivar UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) plastic.

	TABLE 3
			Colemanite,
	Nobleite	Colemanite F	Glass Grade	Zinc Borate
Arching Index	0.2	0.4	0.7	0.5
Ratholing Index	0.5	3.9	4.7	2.9
Hopper Index
Stainless Steel	16	1.3	14	13
Carbon Steel	14	2.7	3	12
Plastic	17	4.2	8	13
Chute Index
Stainless Steel	45	90	76	38
Carbon Steel	47	90	82	44
Plastic	41	90	90	58

[0044] The above results show that the synthetic calcium hexaborate, nobleite, is preferred for superior flow properties, when compared with zinc borate and the finely ground naturally occurring calcium polytriborates (Colemanite F and Colemanite, Glass Grade).

[0045] Various changes and modifications of the invention can be made and to the extent that such changes and modifications incorporate the spirit of this invention, they are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In the method for forming lignocellulosic-based woodfiber-plastic composite products which are resistant to insect and fungal attack, the improvement which comprises incorporating a pesticidal amount of a calcium borate prior to forming said composite product.

2. The method according to claim 1 in which said pesticidal amount is in the range of from about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of said composite product.

3. The method according to claim 1 in which said pesticidal amount is in the range of from about 1% to about 3% by weight of said composite product.

4. The method according to claim 1 in which said lignocellulosic material is selected from the group consisting of wood, flax, hemp, jute, bagasse and straw.

5. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is selected from the group consisting of calcium polytriborate, calcium hexaborate, calcium metaborate, calcium sodium borate and calcium magnesium borate.

6. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is combined with a lignocellulosic material and a thermoplastic resin binder, and said composite product is formed by extrusion.

7. The method according to claim 6 in which a wood furnish is combined with the calcium borate and the thermoplastic resin binder, the resultant mixture is heated and extruded through a die to form said composite product.

8. The method according to claim 7 in which the thermoplastic resin binder is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride.

9. The method according to claim 8 in which said the thermoplastic resin binder is high density polyethylene.

10. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is a naturally occurring borate.

11. The method according to claim 10 in which said calcium borate is selected from the group consisting of nobleite, gowerite, hydroboracite, ulexite and colemanite.

12. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is a synthetic borate.

13. The method according to claim 12 in which said calcium borate is selected from the group consisting of calcium metaborate, calcium polytriborate and calcium hexaborate.

14. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is a calcium polytriborate having a CaO:B2O3 molar ratio of about 2:3.

15. The method according to claim 1 in which said calcium borate is a calcium hexaborate having a CaO:B2O3 molar ratio of about 1:3.

16. The method according to claim 15 in which said calcium hexaborate is nobleite.

17. The method according to claim 1 in which said lignocellulosic material is wood.

18. In the method for producing lignocellulosic-based woodfiber-plastic composite products by combining particles of lignocellulosic material with a thermoplastic resin binder and forming said composite by heating and extruding the mixture through a die, the improvement which comprises incorporating a pesticidal amount of calcium borate prior to forming said composite product.

19. Composite lignocellulosic-based woodfiber-plastic products having resistance to wood destroying insects and fungi containing a pesticidal amount of a calcium borate.

20. Composite products according to claim 19 in which said lignocellulosic material is wood.

21. Composite products according to claim 19 in which said calcium borate is a calcium polytriborate having a CaO:B2O3 molar ratio of about 2:3.

22. Composite products according to claim 19 in which said calcium borate is a calcium hexaborate having a CaO:B2O3 molar ratio of about 1:3

23. A composite lignocellulosic-based woodfiber-plastic product having resistance to insect and fungal attack, produced by the method according to claim 1.