MDF Production from Date Palm Pruning Residues in Pilot plant Scale

Iran is not rich in forest land and only 7. 5 per cent of country covered by forest. So Iran has to import wood based panel annually. It is estimated that 100. 000. 000 Date Palms trees covered an area at about 770. 000 ha around world، and Iran has got 220. 000 ha. Because of several reasons Date palm trees should be pruned and each tree produce 10-20 kg residues annually. In this study، for making boards Date Palm pruning residues as raw material and employed UF resin as the binder. Steeming time (5 and 8 Min.)، steeming time (135 and 145oC) and press time (1، 2 and 3 Min.) were used as variable factors and three boards were made in Pilot plant scale for each combination of variables. Samples of all made boards were tested by the methods of EN to obtain mean values of bending strength، and Internal bond strength (I. B). In addition samples of each type of board were tested for thickness swelling after soaking in water for 2 hours and 24 hours respectively. The results of this study show clearly that boards have higher mechanical properties than the MDF property requirements which is recommended by EN standard.