The present invention provides a process and system for the manufacture of wood-based
composites that implement feedback adjusted in-line addition of a curing accelerator/catalyst
to a thermosetting resin adhesive based on at least one of: present moisture content
of the wood substrate being bonded and the temperature of the wood substrate being
bonded. The method includes: measuring the flow rate of a flowing stream of resin
adhesive; measuring the flow rate of a flowing stream of accelerator/catalyst;
mixing the flowing stream of accelerator/catalyst and the flowing stream of resin
adhesive to form a mixed catalyzed resin adhesive in a proportion of resin adhesive
and accelerator/catalyst determined by said flow rates; applying the mixed catalyzed
resin adhesive to the wood substrate in an application area; measuring a present
moisture content and a present temperature of the wood substrate prior to applying
the mixed catalyzed resin adhesive thereto; varying on a continuous basis, the
proportion of the accelerator/catalyst and resin adhesive in the mixed catalyzed
resin adhesive in accordance with at least one of the present moisture content
and the present temperature and bonding together said wood substrate to form said
wood-based composite.
