Print Syllabus  

Course Syllabus:

Course Title:                                        Wood Composites- Part I

 

Number of Classroom Hours:              1; 1 PDH

Method of Presentation:                     Online Course

Intended Target Group:                       Construction Professionals

 

Provider Information:

Business Name:  Infinity LC DBA On-Line-Classes.com and Engineer Classes.com

Business Address:     801 West Bay Dr. Suite #516

                                    Largo, Fl 33770

Phone Number: (888) 405-7849

Email:  Contact.OnLineClasses@gmail.com

 

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide construction professionals with a thorough understanding of the different types of wood-based composite products and the materials and processes used to manufacture them, including additives, binders, and adhesives.  It will provide information on the optimum use of each composite type as well as their primary characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. In Part 1 of the course Plywood, Oriented Strand Board (OSB), Particle Board and Fiber Board are discussed in detail.

 

Course Learning Objectives:

1.      To become familiar with the types and composition of wood-based composite products and the materials and processes used to manufacture them,

2.      To learn how conventional wood-based composite panels are used for general construction, interior use, or both, and

3.      To examine the different characteristics of each of the wood-based composites and their advantages and disadvantages.

 

Course Outline:

Section 1- Elements & Adhesives - Introduces the wood-based composite classification system and the various sizes and characteristics of wood elements that make up composite materials; Discusses the large variety of wood sources that are appropriate for use in wood-based composites;   Briefly describes the two types of processing methods (wet and dry) used to produce a particular product; Describes bonding through the use of thermosetting adhesive resins, and pinpoints the type of binder typically used for each product type; and also briefly discusses typical additives used in the production of conventional composite products.

Learning Exercise 1

Section 2- Plywood and OSB – Examines how plywood is constructed with its different layers and layers and plies and pinpoints its wide variety of uses; Discusses the properties, characteristics and classes of plywood (including veneer quality), and its advantages over other composite panels; and Communicates the step-by-step manufacturing process of the engineered structural-use panel OSB, Oriented Strand Board, its uses, and how the technology evolved.

Section 3- Particleboard- Examines the technology of particleboard , its materials and its many uses, such as ready-to-assemble furniture; and Outlines the step-by-step manufacturing process including: Obtaining Particles, Particle Classification, Drying, Adding Resins and Wax, Mat Formation, Hot Pressing, Trimming and Surfacing.

Learning Exercise 2

Section 4 – Fiberboard- Outlines the different types of fiberboard, which includes Hardboard, Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF), and Cellulosic Fiberboard and their uses; Reviews the basic refining methods used for each; Distinguishes between wet and dry manufacturing processes; and Discusses the various types of surface treatments and finishing techniques typically used with fiberboard.

Learning Exercise 3

 

Method of Presentation:  This is an online course that consists of collegiate-style lectures that have been professionally narrated by subject matter experts, animated with relevant graphics and media, and converted to Flash for web delivery to provide licensees with a first-rate learning experience.

 

Evaluation Method:

Licensees will be evaluated on their comprehension of the material covered by administering three (3) brief learning exercises, interspersed throughout the course, upon which successful completion of each  is required before advancement to the next section is allowed or course credit is earned.  If the licensing board requires the licensee to pass a final examination, course credit will not be earned until the final exam has been completed to the required proficiency level.

 

Author Information:

Author:

The course information provided herein is a component of the Wood Handbook- Wood as an Engineering Material, a document developed by the Forest Products Laboratory, a National Research Laboratory that provides scientific research on wood, wood products and their commercial uses, enacted as part of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).