The effect of press temperature on properties of medium density fiberboard produced from Eucalyptus camaldulensis fibers

The target of this study was to investigate the possibility of MDF production from Eucalyptus camaldulensis wood. MDF fibers were produced applying three levels of steaming time. Laboratory MDF boards were produced using the generated fibers and different pressing temperature and time. Physical and mechanical properties of MDF panels were measured using relevant EU test methods and were statistically analyzed based on factorial experiment. The results indicated that at longer steaming time, MOR of boards was reduced and the lowest value (16.2 MPa.) were measured on boards produced from fibers generated applying 15 min steaming time. The press temperature imposed statistically significant effect on MOR, and increasing press temperature, increased MOR. Higher steaming time reduced the IB of boards as well as the thickness swelling and increasing steaming time from 7.5 to 15 min, decreased IB from 0.787 to 0.533 MPa. The results of this study indicated that, the MOR and MOE of boards produced from Eucalyptus camaldulensis fibers meet the requirements of Iran national standard values and the internal bonding and thickness swelling of boards are higher than the requirements.