JP3303017B2 - Thermoplasticizing method for wood-based material and apparatus used therefor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process for industrially plasticizing wood-based materials such as wood flour, wood chips, wood fibers, and the like, and an apparatus used therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, various plastic products produced by the petrochemical industry are widely used as industrial materials and daily necessities. However, since these plastic products do not have biodegradability and are liable to cause air pollution when incinerated, their use is restricted and institutionalization of collection and reuse is being studied from the viewpoint of environmental protection. Against this background, harmless biodegradable polymers that replace conventional plastic products are being actively developed.

For example, recent studies have shown that wood flour, wood chips,
In a wood-based material such as wood fiber, when the OH group of cellulose, which is the main component, is modified with a substituent such as a benzyl group under predetermined conditions, the wood-based material exhibits properties like a thermoplastic resin, It has been noticed that it can be formed by press molding or injection molding, and has attracted attention. Since it is made of natural wood, it has biodegradability and is highly useful as a plastic substitute.

[0004]

Therefore, in order to carry out the thermoplastic treatment of the above-mentioned wood-based material on an industrial level, the wood-based material and a liquid thermoplasticizing agent are charged into an appropriate treatment tank and then subjected to a predetermined treatment. A method of heating and reacting at a temperature is being studied. However, in the above-mentioned method, a processing agent which is tens of times excessive with respect to a wood-based material is required, and the cost is extremely high.
Since the reaction product contains an excess of a treating agent, it is necessary to dissolve the product in a solvent for washing and repeatedly wash it, causing a great deal of trouble and loss of the agent, and the treating agent to be used is usually Since it is a toxic chemical solution such as benzyl chloride, there is a problem that a strong irritating odor is generated in a product removing step or a washing step, thereby impairing the working environment, and a solution to the problem is strongly desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a thermoplastic plasticizing treatment of a wood-based material is carried out on an industrial level.
Its purpose is to perform economically and safely.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method for performing a thermoplastic treatment of a wood-based material, which comprises a liquid thermoplastic treatment supplied to a treating agent vaporizing tank. The agent is vaporized by heating, and the vaporized thermoplastic treatment agent is
One side of the processing tank loaded with wood-based material is forcibly supplied to the inside and one side is forcibly discharged from the other side to form a gas stream, and the supply side and the discharge side are switched every predetermined time
By the flow of the processing tank of the air flow of thermoplastic processing agent
A first gist of the present invention is a method of thermoplasticizing a wooden material in which the direction is periodically reversed and the wooden material is brought into contact with the wooden material to be thermoplasticized . Further, the present invention is an apparatus used for the thermoplastic treatment of a wood-based material, comprising a treatment agent vaporization tank provided with a heating means, and a treatment tank loaded with an inner tank filled with the wood-based material. The upper space of the vaporization tank is connected to one end of the processing tank by a processing agent supply pipe provided with a blower, and the other end of the processing tank is connected to a processing agent discharge provided by a vacuum pump. Connects to the pipe, branches off from the processing agent supply pipe, and discharges the processing agent
The branch supply pipe communicating with the pipe near the treatment tank communication port
Branch from the treatment agent discharge pipe and process the treatment agent supply pipe
A branch discharge pipe communicating with the vicinity of the tank communication port
An opening / closing valve for switching the flow path is provided in the supply tank for supplying the thermoplasticizing agent vaporized in the vaporization tank into the processing tank and from the processing tank.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a wood-based thermoplastic treatment apparatus capable of forcibly and reversibly discharging wood-based materials.

[0007]

In other words, the present inventors have been conducting research on a method of economically and safely performing the thermoplasticization of a wood-based material, and have found that even if the wood-based material has not been completely thermoplasticized to the inside, It has been found that press molding is possible if at least the surface is thermoplasticized. Then, if only the surface of the wood-based material is thermoplasticized, it is not necessary to immerse the wood-based material in an excessive thermoplasticizing agent, and it may be enough to spray a small amount of the agent. Further research has shown that it is very difficult to uniformly distribute a small amount of treatment liquid over the entire surface of the wood-based material. Therefore, according to the method of vaporizing the treating agent and forcibly contacting the wood-based material in a gaseous state, it has been found that a small amount of the treating agent can uniformly contact the entire surface of the wood-based material, and the present invention has been reached. . In particular , according to the present invention, the direction of the gas flow of the vaporizing agent should not be periodically reversed.
In addition, since the raw material is brought into contact with a wood-based material, a small amount of a treating agent is required, and the method is economical . In addition , since the surplus treating agent can be collected and subjected to adsorption treatment or reuse, there is an advantage that the release of the irritating odor to the working environment can be almost completely closed.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a treatment agent vaporization tank for vaporizing a liquid treatment agent supplied from the treatment agent supply pipe 9, which is hermetically sealed by fitting the lid 2, and has a peripheral surface thereof. Is formed with a jacket portion 3. A heating medium such as oil or steam whose temperature is controlled by the heating medium temperature controller 4 is introduced into the jacket portion 3 through a pipe 6 having a liquid supply valve 5. And is collected by the heat medium temperature controller 4 via a pipe 8 having
The inside of the vaporization tank 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature by circulation of the heat medium. The vaporization tank 1 is provided with upper and lower two level sensors 10 and 11. The vaporization of the processing agent in the vaporization tank 1 progresses, and the level of the liquid processing agent becomes lower. When the liquid level is lower than the position, the opening / closing valve 12 of the processing agent supply pipe 9 is opened to supply the processing agent. When the liquid level of the processing agent exceeds the position of the upper level sensor 10, the opening / closing valve 12 is closed to supply the processing agent. Is to stop. Reference numeral 13 denotes a temperature sensor for controlling temperature, 14 denotes a drain valve in the jacket 3, and 15 denotes a drain valve in the vaporization tank 1.

On the other hand, the upper space A of the vaporization tank 1 is connected to one end of a horizontal processing tank 17 via a vaporizing agent supply pipe 16, and a gaseous vaporized in the vaporization tank 1 is provided. The processing agent is supplied into the processing tank 17. The treatment tank 17 is hermetically closed by a lid 18 on the right side, and an inner tank 19 filled with a wood-based material is loaded therein. In addition, a jacket portion 20 is also formed on the peripheral surface of the processing tank 17, and the inside of the processing tank 17 is heated to a predetermined temperature or kept warm. 50 is a temperature sensor. A blower 21 is provided in the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16 so that the vaporizing agent can be forcibly supplied to the processing tank 17.

The other end of the processing tank 17 is connected to one end of a processing agent discharge pipe 22 for discharging excess vaporized processing agent. The other end of the treatment agent discharge pipe 22 is branched into two at the downstream side of the on-off valve 23,
The first pipe 24 communicates with the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16. By this pipe 24, the surplus vaporized agent discharged can be returned to the supply side and reused. Also,
The second pipe 25 is connected to a vacuum pump 26, so that the contact between the vaporizing agent and the wood-based material in the processing tank 17 can be efficiently performed by evacuation. In the middle of the second pipe 25, a condenser 27 is provided so that the discharged vaporizing agent can be condensed and liquefied and recovered. The collected processing agent (liquid) is returned to the return pipe 28 by opening the return valve 28.
The liquid can be refluxed from a into the vaporization tank 1. When the reflux is unnecessary, the drain valve 29 can be opened and collected in a predetermined container or the like. In addition, 30 is a vacuum valve, 31 is a release valve, 32 is a cooling water inlet valve to the condenser 27, 33 is a condenser inlet valve, and 34 is a safety valve. Reference numeral 35 denotes a vacuum gauge gate valve, 36 denotes a vacuum sensor, and 37 denotes a vacuum gauge.

Further, the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16 is provided with a branch supply pipe 16a, and the tip of the branch supply pipe 16a communicates with the treatment agent discharge pipe 22 in the vicinity of the processing tank 17 communication port. Conversely, the treatment agent discharge pipe 22
A branch discharge pipe 22a is attached to the downstream side of
The tip is the processing tank 17 of the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16.
It is connected near the communication port. And each pipe 16, 1
6a, 22 and 22a are provided with opening / closing valves 4 for switching flow paths.
0, 41, 23 and 42 are provided.
When the valves 0 and 23 are opened and the open / close valves 41 and 42 are closed, the vaporizing agent flows as shown by the arrow P, and when the opening and closing are reversed, the flow is reversed as shown by the arrow Q. I have. A switching discharge pipe 43 is connected to the branch discharge pipe 22a. When the flow of the vaporizing agent is reversed as shown by the arrow Q, the switch valve 41 is closed and the switch valve 44 is opened. The discharge treatment agent can be taken out as it is.

Using this apparatus, for example, a thermoplastic treatment of a wood-based material can be performed as follows. That is, first, a liquid thermoplasticizing agent (for example, benzyl chloride, dodecanol chloride or a derivative thereof) is supplied into the vaporizing tank 1 from the liquid processing agent supply pipe 9, and the vaporizing tank 1 is heated to the boiling point of the processing agent. The treatment agent is vaporized by heating to the above temperature (for example, when benzyl chloride is used, the boiling point of benzyl chloride is 180 ° C., and the inside of the vaporization tank 1 is heated to 180 to 200 ° C.). On the other hand, the inner tank 19 filled with finely pulverized wood-based material such as wood flour chips is immersed in advance in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide at a predetermined concentration together with the inner tank 19 to make the wood-based material mercerized (cellulose of the raw material). The solution is drained, and then charged into the treatment tank 17. And
While operating the blower 21 and the vacuum pump 26, the vaporizing agent accumulated in the upper space A of the vaporizing tank 1 is forcibly supplied from the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16 into the processing tank 17 and passed through the inner tank 19. After that, the excess processing agent is supplied to the second pipe 2.
Discharge to 5 At this time, the open / close valves 40 and 23,
The supply and discharge of the processing agent to and from the processing tank 17 are reversed by switching the opening and closing of the open / close valves 41 and 42 at predetermined time intervals. Thereby, since the flow of the treatment agent passing through the wood-based material in the inner tank 19 is repeatedly inverted, the wood-based material and the treatment agent are uniformly contacted. Then, the processing agent sent to the second pipe 25 is supplied to the condenser 27.
At the vaporization tank 1 from the return pipe 28a. In this way, the wood-based material in the inner tank 19 comes into uniform contact with the vaporizing agent, and at least the surface thereof is thermoplasticized, and becomes a target thermoplasticized product. In the treated products thus obtained, the surfaces of the individual wood-based materials are transformed into reaction-produced layers and are moistened, and further, have a certain degree of voids therebetween. This treated product has little surplus treating agent remaining on the surface, and after washing once, it is pulverized via a drying process, or is pressed into a tablet or plate shape as it is Be transformed into This is provided with thermoplasticity and is widely used as a molding material like a thermoplastic resin.

In the above embodiment, the jacket 3 is provided in the vaporization tank 1 and the heating medium is introduced into the jacket 3 to heat the vaporization tank 1, but the heating means is not limited to this method. For example, a heat transfer heater may be provided outside the vaporization tank 1 or a coil heater may be attached inside the vaporization tank 1 for heating. Of course, processing tank 17
As for the heating / heating means in the above, appropriate means can be adopted in the same manner as described above.

In the above embodiment, the surplus treating agent is
It is taken out to the second pipe 25 and condensed and collected by the condenser 27. However, by switching the valve, the first pipe 24
And may be collected in a state of being vaporized in the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16. Of course, condenser 2
The gas may be directly discharged in a gaseous state by the vacuum pump 26 without passing through the gasket 7, or may be discharged in a gaseous state from the switching discharge pipe 43 . However, when taking out the treatment agent gas as it is, rather than would dissipate it,
For example, it is preferable to perform the suction process by communicating with the suction means 60 as shown in FIG. The adsorbing means 60 is for adsorbing the treating agent to the water in the water tank 61 by an ejector effect. Of course, a chemical solution for treating agent decomposition may be used instead of water.

Further, in the above embodiment, the processing tank 17 is of a horizontal type, and the inner tank 19 to be loaded therein is, for example, the one shown in FIG. This is entirely made of a stainless steel wire mesh, and has a shape in which a cylindrical body is turned sideways, and one end side is an opening / closing lid 19a. However, the shape of the inner tank 19 is not limited to this, and various shapes such as a rectangular inner tank can be used. And
Wheels for loading and unloading may be attached to the bottom of the inner tank 19, rails may be provided in the processing tank 17, and loading and unloading of the inner tank 19 may be automated in the left-right direction.

There is no problem if the processing tank 17 is set to be vertical. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a vertical processing tank 17 in which a spindle 66 with a peripheral communication hole 65 is erected in the center of the inside is used. The tank 19 is loaded, and the non-porous lid 68 is fitted and fixed to the upper opening. Then, by connecting the bottom communication port 69 to the vaporized processing agent supply pipe 16 (see FIG. 1) and connecting the side communication port 70 to the processing agent discharge pipe 22, the flow of the processing agent can be controlled in the same manner as in the above embodiment. By inverting as shown by arrows P and Q, the wooden material in the inner tank 19 can be subjected to a thermoplastic treatment.

Further, a vertical processing tank 17 as shown in FIG.
May be used. In the processing tank 17, the inner tank 19 having a non-perforated peripheral surface and a communication hole 71 formed on the bottom surface is engaged with a flange 72 formed on the outer periphery thereof and engaged with a rib 73 in the processing tank 17. As shown in FIG.
In the same manner as the above, by connecting to the vaporizing agent supply pipe 16 and the agent discharge pipe 22, the flow of the agent is reversed as shown by arrows P and Q, and the wood-based material in the inner tank 19 is heated. It can be plasticized.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, a thermoplastic treatment agent vaporized by heating in a treatment agent vaporization tank is supplied into a treatment tank loaded with a wood-based material, and a gaseous treatment agent is added. Forcibly and periodically reverse the direction of airflow with wood-based materials
In this case, the plasticizers are brought into contact with each other to perform thermoplasticization. Therefore, according to the present invention, the minimum necessary processing agent can be supplied to the wood-based material, which is economical. Moreover, the contact between the treating agent and the wood-based material can be made uniform, and the entire surface of the wood-based material can be uniformly thermoplasticized. For this reason, the molded product obtained by press-molding the treated product has high strength and can be applied to various building materials, containers, and the like. And, since the surplus treatment agent is taken out in a gaseous state, it can be condensed and recovered or subjected to adsorption treatment, so that not only can the amount of the treatment agent used be minimized, The flow of the processing agent in the apparatus can be closed, and there is an advantage that the use of a highly toxic processing agent does not deteriorate the working environment. Further, in the conventional method, since the reaction product contained an excessive amount of the treating agent, it was necessary to repeatedly wash the reaction product. However, according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the number of times of washing can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a treatment agent adsorption treatment means used in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an inner tank used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the processing tank used in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another modified example of the processing tank.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vaporization tank 3 Jacket part 4 Heat medium temperature controller 16 Vaporization agent supply pipe 17 Processing tank 19 Inner tank 22 Processing agent discharge pipe

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-50-24407 (JP, A) JP-A-4-78501 (JP, A) JP-A-63-183910 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B27K 5/00, 5/06

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for performing a thermoplastic treatment of a wood-based material, wherein a liquid thermoplastic treatment agent supplied to a treatment agent vaporization tank is vaporized by heating, and the vaporized thermoplastic treatment agent is removed. ,
One side of the processing tank loaded with wood-based material is forcibly supplied to the inside and one side is forcibly discharged from the other side to form a gas stream, and the supply side and the discharge side are switched every predetermined time
By the flow of the processing tank of the air flow of thermoplastic processing agent
A method for thermoplastically treating a wood-based material, wherein the wood-based material is thermoplasticized by contacting the wood-based material while periodically reversing its direction . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein excess thermoplastic treatment agent discharged from the treatment tank is adsorbed or condensed and recovered. 3. An apparatus used for a thermoplastic treatment of a wood-based material, comprising: a treatment agent vaporization tank provided with a heating means;
A processing tank for loading an inner tank filled with a wood-based material, and an upper space of the vaporization tank and one end of the processing tank,
In addition to communicating with a processing agent supply pipe provided with a blower, the other end of the processing tank is connected to a processing agent discharge pipe provided with a vacuum pump, and separated from the processing agent supply pipe.
It is connected to the vicinity of the treatment tank communication port of the treatment agent discharge pipe.
Branch from the branch supply pipe and the processing agent discharge pipe to
Branch discharge line communicating near the treatment tank communication port of the agent supply pipe
An on-off valve for switching the flow path is provided on the pipe and on each of the above pipes.
Only, the processing tank of the thermoplastic processing agent that has been vaporized in the vaporization tank
Forcible and reversible supply and discharge from processing tank
A thermoplastic processing apparatus for a wood-based material, characterized in that it can be performed in a short time. Wherein said treating agent discharging pipes, thermoplastic processing agent adsorption means or thermoplastic processing agent condensation collecting means woody thermoplastic processing device materials of claims 3, wherein as to communicate with the.