Laboratory apparatus for applying air-sprayed powdered adhesive

A report is presented on an inexpensive, effective laboratory apparatus for applying powdered adhesive thermosetting resins in particleboard manufacture. Two percent emulsion wax application on the wood materials prior to 8% powdered resin application was the mechanism to assure good initial distribution to retain distribution of the powders, thus avoiding powdered adhesive sifting during panel layup/assembly transfer prior to hot-press curing. Three powdered adhesive resins were evaluated to manufacture laboratory southern pine particleboard. The powdered air-spray apparatus consists of a commercially available spray duster modified with a pressure gage, control valve, internal plastic tubing, and an external plastic tubing. This apparatus will be of interest to research facilities and machinery designers for resin adhesive applications in laboratories and industrial production.