The effect of using PET to Paulownia strands on physical and mechanical properties of OSB

In this research, the effect of adding polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on the physical and mechanical properties of oriented strand boards (OSB) made from Paulownia strands wood was investigated. Fixed factors of this research are: strands of Paulownia species (Paulownia fortunie) with the dimensions of 120×20×0/8 mm, soluble phenol formaldehyde resin (8% based on dry weight of strands and 10% based on dry weight of PET, density of 0.5 gr/cm3. The three layers OSB consisting of top layer (25% by weight) and bottom layer (25% by weight), and middle layer (50% by weight). Variable factors are: the mixing ratio of PET to paulownia strands at the four different levels of 0:100, 10:90, 20:80, 30:70 and the distribution of PET in three layers was in the surface layers, in the middle layer and in all three layers. The results showed that increasing in PET particle content decreased thickness swelling of the boards so that at the 30 percent level of PET particle, thickness swelling after 24 hours improved 50.63%. The mechanical properties decreased when PET content increased. The minimum of mechanical strengths observed at 30 percent of PET content. So that in comparison with the control samples showed a decrease of 50.45% in bending strength, 39.54% in modulus of elasticity and 73.68% in internal bond. According to the results can be concluded that the paulownia-PET OSBs meet the requirements of the EN-300 standard.