Particleboard experimental production with bamboo, pine and mate for one product of new applications

Abstract

Particleboard can be produced from a mixture of different lignocellulosic materials, which can be chosen depending on the density required for the panel and its applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of particleboard with bamboo, pine and mate for a new product of high density for the special applications currently served by HDF. Particles of bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) finely chopped sticks of mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and commercial particles of southern pine (Pinus taeda) wood were used. These particles used 100 % by weight in the panel or in mixtures of 50 % each (three mixtures) or in a triple mixture of one third each, were glued in a drum-type rotary mixer with melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resin, and pressed in hydraulic press at 120 °C and 5,88 MPa for 10 minutes, up to 6 mm thickness. The panels were produced with 0,90 g∙cm^-3 nominal density and, after pressing, were conditioned at 20 ºC and 65 % relative humidity. Statistical was performed by means the variance analysis and simplex centroid experimental design, with three replicates. It was found the use of pine particles contributed mainly to increase the panel's strength and stiffness, while the use of mate particles facilitated internal bond strength. The results compared with the ANSI A208.1 indicate that the panels with potential for use as floors and other applications requiring medium to high mechanical strength. The mixtures modeling showed that the water absorption, the strength and stiffness in bending and the internal bond strength are explained by the cubic model, while the thickness swelling and hardness are explained by the quadratic model. The best physical and mechanical properties results were found for the pine, bamboo and mate same ratio mixture.