PARTICLEBOARDS MADE FROM AUSTRALIAN RED CEDAR: PROCESSING VARIABLES AND EVALUATION OF MIXEDSPECIES

Abstract

BUFALINO L, ALBINO VCS, de SÁ VA, CORRÊA AAR, MENDES LM & ALMEIDA NA. 2012. Particleboards
made from Australian red cedar: processing variables and evaluation of mixed-species. This work was developed
in two stages with the following aims: (1) to evaluate physical and mechanical properties of particleboards
made from wood residues of Toona ciliata with target densities of 0.65 and 0.70 g cm-³ and 6 and 9% adhesive
contents, and (2) to compare particleboards made from 100% T. ciliata particles (TC) with particleboards made
from 50% T. ciliata particles mixed with 50% Pinus oocarpa particles (TC/P) or 50% Eucalyptus hybrid clone
particles (TC/E). In the first stage, best results were obtained with 9% urea-formaldehyde and target density
of 0.70 g cm-³. These processing variables were chosen for the production of mixed-species particleboards
in the second stage of the work. TC particleboards had higher mechanical properties than mixed-species
particleboards. For physical properties, TC particleboards were similar to TC/P particleboards. TC/E
particleboards showed lowest results of mechanical properties and highest values of physical properties, and
they are also suitable for interior applications. The results showed great potential in using wood residues of
T. ciliata alone or mixed with Eucalyptus or Pinus species in particleboard production.