Composite wood products and methods of manufacture
View Patent ↗A composite wood product adapted for burning includes a compacted mixture of lignosulfonate, wood particles, and ground corn. A method of manufacturing the composite wood product includes: (i) providing and mixing the lignosulfonate, the wood particles, and the ground corn to form a mixture having a moisture content from about 6 wt. % to about 18 wt. %; compacting the mixture at high pressure; and drying the mixture to obtain an optimum moisture level for burning. The composite wood product may be provided in a kit that includes log-shaped pieces and starter pieces.
1. A composite wood product adapted for burning, the composite wood product comprising:
lignosulfonate in an amount from about 0.5 wt. % to about 6 wt. %;
wood particles;
ground corn in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %; and
a moisture content from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %,
wherein the composite wood product is characterized by an absence of wax.
2. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the lignosulfonate comprises powdered calcium lignosulfonate.
3. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the wood particles are present in the composite in an amount of up to about 96 wt. %.
4. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the wood particles are sized to pass through a ⅜ inch screen.
5. The composite of claim 1 , characterized by an absence of malodorous constituents.
6. The composite of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an herb and a spice.
7. The composite of claim 1 configured as at least one of a disk, a cylinder, a half-cylinder, a bar with a square cross-section, a bar with a square cross-section and rounded edges, and portions thereof.
8. A method of using a composite wood product adapted for burning, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a composite wood product comprising a blend of lignosulfonate in an amount from about 0.5 wt. % to about 6 wt. %, wood particles, ground corn in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, and a moisture content from about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, wherein the composite wood product is characterized by an absence of wax; and
burning the composite wood product to produce smoke characterized by a lack of malodorous content.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wood particles are sized to pass through a ⅜ inch screen.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite wood product comprises at least one of an herb and a spice.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite wood product comprises a plurality of log-shaped pieces and a plurality of starter pieces.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising arranging the plurality of log-shaped pieces in a bottom layer and placing the plurality of starter pieces on top of the bottom layer.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising starting a fire by igniting the plurality of starter pieces on top of the bottom layer.
14. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises a specific gravity from about 1.2 to about 1.4.
15. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises an ash content from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.6 wt. %.
16. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises lignosulfonate in an amount of about 2.5 wt. %.
17. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the wood particles are present in the composite in an amount from about 84 wt. % to about 98.5 wt. %.
18. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite wood product comprises a specific gravity from about 1.2 to about 1.4.
19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite wood product comprises an ash content from about 0.3 wt. % to about 0.6 wt. %.
20. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composite wood product comprises lignosulfonate in an amount of about 2.5 wt. %.
21. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wood particles are present in the composite in an amount from about 84 wt. % to about 98.5 wt. %.