metal frame size of 250 170 4mm3 using a Siempelkamp computerized
hydraulic hot press. The temperature of the press plates
was set to 180 C. First, the pressure was set to 20 bar for 370 s. The
upper plate was lifted shortly for 10 s to release water vapour from
wood particles of the compound. Then the pressure was increased
to 60 bar for 117 s and to 100 bar for 22 s. Finally, the temperature
of the plates was decreased to 90 C for 169 s. The 100%-plasticplates
were produced slightly different to the compounds to
decrease shrinkage. After final pressing at 100 bar, the temperature
of the plates was decreased to 60 C instead of 90 C with a slower
cool down below 120 C.
The experimental design is presented in Table 1.