Characteristics of Bamboo Particleboard Bonded with Citric Acid-Starch Using Three-Step Press Cycle Method

Abstract

In an attempt to reduce the use of a formaldehyde-based adhesive that is dangerous for both human health and environment, several studies had been done to develop particleboard with natural bio-based adhesives. Between those bio-based adhesives that have been investigated, the combination of citric acid-starch was potential to be developed further as an adhesive to particleboard. In this research, the effect of starch addition and press temperature on the properties of bamboo particleboard were evaluated. This research uses a combination of citric acid/starch with the composition weight ratio of 100/0, 90/10, 80/20 and 70/30 and press temperature of 160, 180 and 200 °C. The manufacture of particleboard also used a three-step press cycle method which has not been done before in Petung bamboo particleboard production. The result showed that the three-press cycle method used in this research was able to produce a board with excellent properties than board produced by single-step press cycle method. This showed that the manufacture of the board in this research was more efficient to produce citric acid-starch bonded particleboard than previous method being used. The results also showed that both the addition of starch and the increase of press temperature especially improved bamboo particleboard mechanical properties. The board with the optimum properties resulted from particleboard with citric acid/starch adhesive with the composition weight ratio of 80/20 and press temperature of 180 °C which could meet JIS A 5908 (2003) type 18 requirement.