COMPARISONS OF PARTICLEBOARD PRODUCED FROM <em>ACACIA</em> <em>HYBRID</em> AND A UK COMMERCIAL PARTICLEBOARD FURNISH FROM RECYCLED WOOD

Abstract

Suffian M, Ormondroyd GA & Hale MD. 2010. Comparisons of particleboard produced from Acacia hybrid and a Uk commercial particleboard furnish from recycled wood. A series of particleboards were produced from small diameter logs of Acacia hybrid and a UK commercial furnish (recycled wood). Physical and mechanical properties of the boards were then determined. It was hypothesised that the particleboard produced from Acacia hybrid would have acceptable mechanical and physical properties for the European market. Both particleboards surpassed the European standard requirements for general purpose boards (Type P1). Boards produced using Acacia hybrid exceeded the standard requirements for load bearing boards (Type P4). Thickness swelling and water absorption values were about half of those achieved by boards manufactured from the commercial furnish after being immersed in water for 2 and 24 hours. Similar trends could be seen when boards were immersed in water for nearly 70 hours and exposed to wet−dry cycles. The modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture of Acacia hybrid were 90 and 50% greater than recycled wood respectively. The internal bond strength of the Acacia hybrid boards was significantly high in both dry and exposed conditions. Extreme exposure in a cyclic test (BS EN 321:1993) meant that the difference in swelling between the two furnishes became statistically insignificant.