Industrial waste material for particle boards manufacturing

Abstract

The quality of particle boards elaborated with waste material from sawing, veneer and slicing processes was evaluated. The effect of sawdust containing bark and the effect of a hydrophobic agent on the physicomechanical properties of the board were determined. Board quality was determined based on the physicomechanical properties of swelling, tension and flection of the DIN standard; water absorption according to ASTM 1037 standard. Results indicated that the waste materials used are appropriate for the elaboration of particle boards, fulfilling DIN 68 763 standard in the physicomechanical properties. The percentage of bark containing waste from the Vista Alegre Sawmill did not significantly affect the mechanical properties of the boards, however they influenced the physical properties negatively. Hydrophobe decreased the levels of swelling and water absorption, without altering the mechanical properties of the boards with no-bark sawdust. In the tension trial, no difference was observed between the boards with bark and those that contained no-bark sawdust.