Fiberboard Created Using the Natural Adhesive Properties of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles

Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) were employed as a bio-based resin/adhesive. DDGS were defatted with hexane, ball ground, and screened prior to use. DDGS flour was mixed dry with Paulownia wood (PW) to make composites using the following conditions: temperature of 150 to 195 degrees C, PW particle sizes of <= 75 to 1700 mu m, pressure of 2.1 to 5.6 MPa, and using DDGS dosages of 10 to 100%. Molded composites were evaluated for their flexural properties. Composites were examined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The best flexural properties were obtained from composites containing 50% DDGS and 50% PW, using 180 to 250 mu m PW particles, pressed at 5.6 MPa, and employing 185 degrees C. Flexural properties of DDGS-PW composites were similar to composites fabricated using soybean flour (Prolia) as the resin/adhesive. Dimensional stability properties (water absorbance and thickness swelling) of DDGS-PW and Prolia-PW composites were similar. DDGS-PW composite properties satisfied several European Committee Industry Standards for fiberboards in terms of flexural properties but were inferior in terms of thickness swelling properties.