COMPOSITE VENEER INCLUDING A NONWOVEN INNER PLY

1 . A composite veneer including:

a first cellulose face;

a second cellulose face in parallel spaced relation to the first cellulose face; and

a nonwoven inner ply positioned intermediate the first cellulose face and the second cellulose face, the nonwoven inner ply formed from a plurality of polymer fibers.

2 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers are formed of an at least partially amorphous polymer.

3 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers are formed of a novoloid.

4 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyphene sulfides, polysulfone, polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone, polyether sulfone, polyisobutylene, poly(vinyl acetate), and novoloid.

5 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the polymer fibers are formed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of: nylon, novoloid, novolac, phenolic fibers, melamines, polyesters, polypropylenes, polyethylenes, polystyrenes, polyacrylic acids, polyacrylonitrils, polyimides, polyetherimides, polyamideimides, polymethyl methacrylates, polyphenelene sulfides, aramids, polybenzimidazoles, polyphenylenebenzobizoxazoles, aromatic polyketones, polyvinyl acetates, polysulfones, polyethersulfones, polyurethanes, polyisobutylenes, liquid crystal polymers, and poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide).

6 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the inner ply further comprises a synthetic latex.

7 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the inner ply further includes a flame retardant.

8 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the composite veneer has a zero second extinguish rate after burn.

9 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven inner ply is a needle punched nonwoven material.

10 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the first cellulose face and the second cellulose face are formed of poplar wood.

11 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , further including:

a first adhesive layer between the first cellulose face and the nonwoven inner ply; and

a second adhesive layer between the nonwoven inner ply and the second cellulose face.

12 . The composite veneer of claim 11 , wherein the first and second adhesive layers independently comprise an adhesive selected from the group consisting of: a phenolic glue and an acrylic melamine glue.

13 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the composite veneer has a flexural modulus at least about 4 times lower than similarly constructed three-ply veneer having a cellulose inner ply.

14 . The composite veneer of claim 1 , wherein the composite veneer has a bending radius of about 0.20 inches parallel to a wood grain of the first and second cellulose faces.

15 . A method of forming a composite veneer, the method comprising:

providing a first cellulose face;

providing a nonwoven ply formed from a plurality of polymer fibers;

adhering the nonwoven ply to the first cellulose face with a first glue line;

pressing the first cellulose face, first glue line, and nonwoven ply in a press at elevated temperature and pressure to form a two ply composite;

adhering a second cellulose face to the nonwoven ply of the two ply composite with a second glue line; and

pressing the two ply composite, second glue line, and second cellulose in a press at elevated temperature and pressure to form the composite veneer.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

slicing a log to form a plurality of sheets;

splicing a first portion of the plurality of sheets with an adhesive to form the first cellulose face; and

splicing a second portion of the plurality of sheets with an adhesive to form the second cellulose face.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising pressing the nonwoven ply at an elevated temperature and pressure.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising treating the composite veneer with a fire retardant.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymer fibers are formed of a novoloid.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the elevated temperature is about 350° F. and the elevated pressure is about 230 bar.