Investigation on the properties of oriented strand boards (OSB) made from mixture ten- year- old poplar clones

In this study, the effects of mat moisture content and press temperature on physical and mechanical properties of three layered oriented strand boards were evaluated. Two levels of mat moisture content 7% and 10% and three levels of press temperature 180 ˚c , 200 ˚c and 220 ˚c were applied and 12 mm in nominal thickness laboratory boards were made from mixture of three clones of ten-year-old hybrid poplar ( populous euramericana vernirubensis, p. e. I-214, P. e. 561/41) while the strands on the surface layers are aligned in the long direction of the board and the middle layer strands are cross aligned to the surface layers. In all treatments, board targeted density of 0/7 g/cm3 and press time of 8 min and phenol-formaldehyde resin (PF) content of 7% based on the oven dry weight of the strands were held constant. The mechanical and physical properties of the boards were measured as defined in relevant European standards EN 300 for OSB/1 and OSB/2. Overall results showed that all boards made from above mentioned conditions exceed the EN 300 standards for MOR, MOE, IB and TS24. The bending properties (MOR and MOE) of boards were significantly improved as the mat moisture content increased from 7 to 10%. The highest MOR was achieved at 10% mat moisture content and 220 ˚c press temperature and the highest MOE was achieved at 10% mat moisture content and 180 ˚c press temperature. The Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Thickness swelling (TS24) were significantly improved as the press temperature increased from 180 ˚c to 220 ˚c. The lowest TS24 was achieved at 7% mat moisture content and 220 ˚c press temperature and the highest IB was achieved at 7% mat moisture content and 200 ˚c press temperature.