Cement-bonded wood particleboard with a mixture of eucalypt and rubberwood

Abstract Six eucalypts species Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., E. citriodora Hook, E. cloeziana F. Muell, E. grandis Hill ex. Maiden, E. pilularis Sm., and E. urophylla S. T. Blake) and two clones of rubberwood ( Hevea brasiliensis (Willd ex Adr. de Juss) Muell. Arg.), planted in Brazil, were used to manufacture wood cement-bonded particleboard (CBWP). Boards measuring 450 × 450 × 13 mm were manufactured in a wood/cement/water ratio of 1:4:1, by weight; nominal density of 1.4 g/cm 3 and 4% of additive (CaCl 2 ·H 2 O) using a mixture of each eucalypts species (50%) and the two clones of rubberwood (25% of each). Three replications were fabricated for each treatment and the physical and mechanical properties of the boards evaluated according to ASTM D 1037-96a [Standard test methods for evaluating properties of wood-base fiber and particle panel materials. ASTM D 1037-96a, vol. 04.09. ASTM, 1998]. The results of modulus of elasticity ranged from 4090 to 4771 MPa. The results of modulus of rupture ranged from 5.8 to 6.4 MPa. Internal bond were similar to those found in the literature. Screw withdrawal values were up to 2020 N. The panels showed very good dimensional stability. The mixture of species and also the addition of calcium chloride have improved the physical and mechanical properties of the panels. Decay fungi tests were conducted according to the ASTM D 2017-81 [Standard test method for accelerated laboratory test of natural decay resistance of woods. ASTM D 2017-81, vol. 04.09. ASTM, 1994-e1. p. 324] for two representative wood-attacking fungi, a brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum (Persoon ex Fries) Murrill and a white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (Linnaeus ex Fries) Pilat. Twelve samples were tested and after 12 weeks of exposure the average weight loss was determined. The test indicated that CBWP was classified as “highly resistant” and the samples gained weight.