Bending Properties of Particleboard from Hibiscus cannabinus (Kenaf), Leucaena sp. (Petai belalang), and Hevea brasiliensis (Rubberwood)
Muhammad Hazwan Bin Khalid, Nurrohana Ahmad, Mohd Zaim Bin Mohd Nor, Nur Sakinah Mohamed Tamat, Rafizah Mansor, Wan Mohd Nazri Bin Wan Abdul Rahman

Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Wood Industry, University Technology MARA

Abstract

This study presents the manufacturing of particleboard produced from a mixture of sustainable biomaterials. The evaluations are conducted to determine the bending properties of particleboard from the mixture of Kenaf core, Leucaena, and Rubberwood and the effect of different biomaterial ratios on particleboard properties. The usage of urea-formaldehyde (UF) as a particleboard binder and target board density of 700 kg/m3 were studied. Particleboards were assessed for the properties of bending according to BS EN310:1993. Samples were tested by using a universal testing machine (Instron) to get the bending result- modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE). Treatment of 5% kenaf core (KC5%) shows the highest strength and is followed by the treatment of 10% (KC10%) and 15% (KC15%). All three ratios for MOR meet the minimum standard requirement for BS EN Standard. For MOE, the treatment of KC15% does not meet the minimum requirement of the standard. The results revealed that increasing the ratio of the Kenaf core will decrease bending strength. However, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows no significant difference between those treatments. Therefore, all the treatments in this study have the potential to be used in particleboard manufacturing. In order to increase their bending properties, it would be important to consider possible of other biomaterials as a raw materials in further studies.

Keywords: particleboard- rubberwood- Leucaena- kenaf- biomaterials ratio.

Topic: Biomaterials, Tissue engineering, Pharmaceuticals Industry