The Effect of Cotton Stalks Storage Time on Physical & Mechanical Properties of Produced Particleboard

The purpose of this study was to investigation the effect of storage time of cotton stalks on properties of produced particleboard. Therefore experimental boards were produced from cotton stalk in form of fresh، stored for 4 and 8 mounths in indoor and outdoor conditions. Also two combination of cotton stalk and poplar particles (100% cotton stalk and 60% cotton stalk & 40% poplar) is used. 30 boards were produced and physical & mechanical properties of their tested and analized. The results indicated that the modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of boards decreased significantly، with increasing of storage time of cotton stalk. Although، increasing of poplar particles made up reduction MOR and MOE of boards that made from cotton stalk with 4 and 8 mounth of storage time. The results indicated that with increasing of the storage time، the internal bonding of boards decreased to lower than EN standard level and use of cotton stalk and poplar particles combination were effective and improved IB of boards. Also، the thickness swelling of boards increased with increasing of storage time of cotton stalk. The results of this investigation showed that all of physical and mechanical properties of made particleboard reduced with increasing of storage time of cotton stalk. But the IB of boards decreased to lower than EN standard level.