The effect of lignocellulosic material and resin content on physical and mechanical properties of particleboard

In the present study, the use of wheat straw fibers and industrial wood particle as a renewable lignocellulosic resources for manufacturing particleboard was investigated. For this purpose, urea formaldehyde resin was used at two levels of 10% and 12% based on the dry weight of the raw material. The cake was compressed by a hot hydraulic press at a pressure of 150 bar for 12 minutes at 150 ° C.Then physical and mechanical properties of samples such as water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 hours immersion in water, internal bonding, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture were evaluated according to EN310. The results showed that the wheat straw fibers increased water absorption and swelling thickness of 2 and 24 hours due to increase in hydrophilicity; That is, the effect of the type of lignocellulosic material on the thickness swelling of 2 and 24 hours depended on the percentage of resin used. Application of industrial wood particle fibers in comparison to wheat straw particles decreased significantly water absorption and thickness swelling of 2 and 24 hours. Remarkable decrease in water absorption of 2 and 24 h was observed with increasing resin content. The internal bonding of samples made with industrial wood particle showed a significant increase compared to the samples made with wheat straw. Modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture of samples made with wheat straw increased significantly due to the greater compression of straw particles during pressing.