Degradation of UF-resins by thermo-mechanical and chemo-thermo-mechanical pulping of medium density fibreboards

Thermo-mechanical (TMP) and chemo-thermo-mechanical pulping (CTMP) of UF-bonded MDF induce considerable degradation of the UF-resin in the board and lead to a conspicuous increase in the content of water extractives of the fibres. Moreover, the water extractives of the fibres have a higher pH-value and a lower buffering capacity as well as higher acetate and formate ions content than the extractives of the original board. However, the lignin content seems rather to increase than to decrease. This is possibly due to reaction between lignin and formaldehyde from the resin.