Low density composite wood panels are manufactured from a feedstock
comprising wood wool strands of high average slenderness ratio and high
average aspect ratio, and low bulk density. The feedstock wool strands are
blended with a resin binder typically in the range of 3 to 5 percent by
weight and a hot wax in the range 1 to 2 percent by weight and formed into
a mat. The mat is hot pressed with steam injection to effect curing of the
resin. The low density panels may include on one or both of their major
faces a wood veneer layer. The wood wool strands typically comprise wood
of the aspen or jack pine species.
