Internal temperature and pressure responses to flake alignment during hot-pressing

and 446 kg/m3, were pressed at 180 °C to a 10 mm thickness. Steel capillary tubes and thermocouple wires were inserted during mat forming at various thickness positions to monitor gas pressure and temperature. Panel density was found to positively affect thermal conduction, and negatively affect lateral and transverse permeability and transverse thermal convection. Flake-alignment positively affected lateral permeability, and negatively affected transverse thermal convection. These results indicate that lower density mats will heat faster and have lower internal gas pressures. Less aligned mats will initially heat faster and have higher internal gas pressures, but towards the end of pressing they will take slightly longer to heat.