Fibrous materials and composites

Abstract

Fibrous materials, compositions that include fibrous materials, and uses of the fibrous materials and compositions are disclosed. For example, the fibrous materials can be operated on by a microorganism to produce ethanol or a by-product, such as a protein or lignin.

1 . A method of reducing biological overgrowth or rot or decay in a composite, the method comprising:
 irradiating a composite with an ionizing radiation prior to use,   wherein the composite comprises a blend of a resin and a fibrous material dispersed in the resin, and wherein the fibrous material has been obtained by shearing a fiber source to provide a first fibrous material; and passing the first fibrous material though a first screen having an average opening size of 1.59 mm or less.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite is in the form of an article selected from the group consisting of structures, ornamental articles, stepping stools, pipes, panels, decking materials, boards, housings, sheets, blocks, bricks, poles, fencing, members, doors, shutters, awnings, shades, signs, frames, window casings, backboards, flooring, tiles, railroad ties, trays, tool handles, stalls, films, wraps, tapes, boxes, baskets, racks, casings, binders, dividers, walls, mats, frames, bookcases, sculptures, chairs, tables, desks, toys, games, pallets, wharves, piers, boats, masts, septic tanks, automotive panels, computer housings, above- and below-ground electrical casings, furniture, picnic tables, benches, shelters, trays, hangers, servers, caskets, book covers, canes and crutches. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite is in the form of a board. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological growth is of yeasts and/or bacteria in contact with the composite, or the rot or decay is due to microbes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the irradiation is performed using electron beam radiation, x-ray radiation or gamma radiation and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite includes the fibrous material, the resin and a dye. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fibrous material has an average length-to-diameter ratio of greater than 5 and having a standard deviation of a fiber length of less than sixty percent of an average fiber length. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fibrous material comprises a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, optionally densified. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises a cross-linked resin and a fibrous material having an average length-to-diameter ratio of greater than 5 and a standard deviation of a fiber length is less than eighty five percent of an average fiber length. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an average length of the fibrous material is between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises a filler having a transverse dimension of less than 1000 nm, a fibrous material, and a cross-linked resin. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite comprises a resin and sawdust having fibers having an average length-to-diameter ratio of greater than 5 and a standard deviation of a fiber length is less than eighty five percent of an average fiber length dispersed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the resin comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset resin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyethyleneimines, elastomeric styrenic copolymers, polyamide elastomers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, cast polyurethane, cast silicone and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the resin comprises a polyolefin that has a polydispersity of greater than 2 and/or a melt flow rate greater than 10 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite has been made using plastic processing machinery selected from the group consisting of injection molding equipment, compression molding equipment and extrusion equipment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the average length-to-diameter ratio is greater than 10/1. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the fibrous material comprises a cellulosic or lignocellulosic material that has been sheared to release the fibrous material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material has been sheared with a rotary knife cutter.