Novel Fire Resistant Low Formaldehyde Emitting Fiberboard Panels Made from Deadwood or Wood Residuals and Nanocellulose

Principal Investigator: Mehdi Tajvidi (Forest Resources, UMaine)

Partners: Douglas Bousfield (Chemical and Biological Engineering, UMaine); John Hunt (Forest Products Laboratory, USDA)

Abstract: This project involves a collaboration between several UMaine units and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory on the production of a novel fire-resistant fiberboard building material that can be sourced solely from deadwood and other wood residues without the use of a formaldehyde-based resin in a fully environmentally friendly production system. This product will provide a unique incentive for the forest products industry to maximize the utilization of low-value wood and reduce hazardous fuels and other wood residues from forests.