MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD FROM <em>ALBIZIA</em> <em>FALCATARIA</em>

Abstract

Medium density fibreboards or MDF were made from a fast growing tree, Albizia falcataria. Four cooking conditions, three using soaked chips and one using air-dry chips, were selected. In the manufacture of the fibreboards at three target densities, urea resin was used as an adhesive. The boards with densities of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 g/cc generally met the Japanese Industrial Standards JIS 5906 for 50-type, ISO-type and 200-type boards respectively, based on the classification of board by bending strength. The thickness swelling of all the boards also met the specifications although no hardeners or wax were used.