EFFECTS OF NANO-SILVER ON GAS AND LIQUID PERMEABILITY OF PARTICLEBOARD

Effects of 200 ppm aqueous dispersion of silver nano-particles on gas and liquid permeability of particleboards is studied here. Nano-silver was added at two levels of 100 and 150 milli-liters/kg dry weight wood particles and compared with control boards; all other manufacturing variables remained constant. Gas permeability values were measured at 7 different vacuum pressures in a single run and correlation of each was analyzed with two liquid permeabilities as 1 drop time and 50-mm-lowering time; both liquid permeabilities were measured using Rilem test tube. Results showed that 100 ml/kg made permeability decrease by about 90% which is due to better heat-transfer to the center layer of the mat making better polymerization of resin. Also, all 7 vacuum pressures nearly presented the same permeability values except the vacuum pressure at the first water column height due to high fluctuations at the beginning of each run. 50-mm-lowering liquid permeability is recommended for estimation of gas permeability of particleboards because of its higher correlation.