Physical and Mechanical Properties of Fiberboard Manufactured from Creosote treated Solid Wood

In this research، manufacturing of fiberboard (HDF) and treated fiberboard from creosote treated solid wood was studied. Recycled fibers were generated by pretreatment of creosote treated wood chips with sodium hydroxide and fiberized under normal environmental condition. These fibers were blended with 0، 15، 30، 45 and 100 percent by weight of virgin fiber; generated from untreated wood under high vapor pressure condition. Then fiber mixtures were treated with creosote (free of high molecular weight PAH components) and creosote free runoff obtained from both fiber generation processes، to form wet fiber mats. All fiber mats were completely dried and hot pressed to produce 3mm (d: 1g/cm3) nominal thickness hardboards. Next، physical and mechanical properties of creosote treated and untreated fiberboards were evaluated. The results showed that creosote treated fiberboards had better physical properties with minor water absorption (<17%) and thickness swelling (<11%) after 24 hours submersion in water while FTIR test indicated that creosote components were not absorbed chemically by wood ingredients. On the other hand، creosote free fiberboards presented better mechanical properties so that adding only 45% of virgin fibers resulted in similar properties to those of 100% virgin fiber samples.