Effect of press cycle time and resin content on physical and mechanical properties of particleboard panels made from the underutilized low-quality raw materials

Abstract In this study, the influence of press cycle time and resin content (RC) on some of the physical and mechanical properties of single-layer particleboard manufactured from the low-quality raw materials were determined. Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis ), mesquite ( Prosopis juliflora ), saltcedar ( Tamarix stricta ) and date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera ) wood, which is underutilized invasive species in southern parts of Iran, were used as alternative raw materials for particleboard manufacturing. Variable factors were as resin content (9, 10 and 11%) and press time (PT) (4, 5 and 6 min). Other parameters such as type of resin (UF), hardener content (2%), type of hardener (NH 4 Cl), press-closing time (4.5 mm/s), board density (0.75 g/cm 3 ), press pressure (30 kg/m 2 ) and press temperature (160 °C) were held constant. The experimental panels were tested for their mechanical strength including modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bonding (IB) and physical stability properties (thickness swelling) according to the procedures defined by European Union (EN) Standard. Overall results showed that most panels made from above-mentioned materials exceed the EN Standards for IB, MOE and MOR. The mechanical properties of particleboard were improved as the resin content increased from 9 to 11%. The results indicated that the polymerization of resin and wood is better at 11% resin content and 5 min of press time. However, thickness-swelling (TS) values were higher (poor) than requirements. Panels made of mesquite, saltcedar and date palm with a resin content of 11% and pressed for 5 min is adequate for general uses while eucalyptus with a resin content of 11% and pressed for 6 min is suitable for interior decoration.

[1]  M. Alma,et al.  Properties of cotton carpel-based particleboards , 2005 .

[2]  N. Swamy,et al.  Bamboo and wood fibre cement composites for sustainable infrastructure regeneration , 2006 .

[3]  Hülya Kalaycıoğlu,et al.  Producing composite particleboard from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) stalks , 2006 .

[4]  P. Stefani,et al.  Medium‐density particleboards from rice husks and soybean protein concentrate , 2007 .

[5]  A. Ashori,et al.  Fundamental studies on wood–plastic composites: Effects of fiber concentration and mixing temperature on the mechanical properties of poplar/PP composite , 2008 .

[6]  M. Sain,et al.  Bioprocess preparation of wheat straw fibers and their characterization , 2006 .

[7]  S. Kawai,et al.  Properties of kenaf core binderless particleboard reinforced with kenaf bast fiber-woven sheets , 2005, Journal of Wood Science.

[8]  H. Khalil,et al.  Conventional agro-composites from chemically modified fibres , 2007 .

[9]  Xiaoqun Mo,et al.  Compression and tensile strength of low-density straw-protein particleboard , 2001 .

[10]  Bryan M. Jenkins,et al.  Properties of medium-density particleboard from saline Athel wood , 2006 .

[11]  Alireza Ashori,et al.  Wood-plastic composites as promising green-composites for automotive industries! , 2008, Bioresource technology.

[12]  A. Grigoriou,et al.  Characterization and utilisation of vine prunings as a wood substitute for particleboard production , 2002 .

[13]  H. Kalaycıoğlu,et al.  Effects of steaming process on some properties of eucalyptus particleboard bonded with UF and MUF adhesives , 2007 .

[14]  Robert J. Tichy,et al.  International Particleboard/Composite Materials Symposium Proceedings , 1997 .

[15]  Donghai Wang,et al.  Properties of particleboard bond with rice bran and polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate adhesives , 2006 .

[16]  Jianying Xu,et al.  Manufacture and properties of binderless particleboard from bagasse I: effects of raw material type, storage methods, and manufacturing process , 2005, Journal of Wood Science.

[17]  A. Aydın,et al.  Evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard made from the needle litter of Pinus pinaster Ait. , 2007 .

[18]  Alireza Ashori,et al.  Nonwood Fibers—A Potential Source of Raw Material in Papermaking , 2006 .

[19]  S. Hiziroglu,et al.  Some of the properties of particleboard made from paulownia , 2005, Journal of Wood Science.

[20]  X. Sun,et al.  Adhesive properties of modified soybean flour in wheat straw particleboard , 2004 .

[21]  S. Hiziroglu,et al.  Properties of bamboo-rice straw-eucalyptus composite panels , 2005 .

[22]  G. Nemli.  Effects of Some Manufacturing Factors on the Properties of Particleboard Manufactured from Alder (Alnus glutinosa subsp. Barbata) , 2003 .

[23]  A. Ashori,et al.  Effect of a Novel Coupling Agent, Polybutadiene Isocyanate, on Mechanical Properties of Wood-Fiber Polypropylene Composites , 2008 .

[24]  G. Nemli.  Factors Affecting the Production of E1 Type Particleboard , 2002 .

[25]  X. Sun,et al.  Low density particleboard from wheat straw and corn pith , 2002 .