Characterization of Hoop Pine (Araucaria Cunninghamii Sweet) for Ply and Particleboard Manufacture

Abstract

Studies for assessing the suitability of Hoop-pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) wood for plywood and particleboard manufacture. It was found that 1.5 mm thick smooth and figured veneer can be made and dried easily. Three-ply plywood were made using veneer of this species bonded with liquid urea formaldehyde glue of 50% solid content, extended with wheat flour and catalyzed (ammonium chloride) with 2% hardener under the specific pressures, viz, 1.05 N/mm2, 1.40 N/mm2, 1.76 N/mm2 in three replications at 6 minutes press time and 120°C press temperature. Dry and wet shear test were conducted on the sample and their shear load at failure per unit area and percentage of wood failure were determined. 1.40 N/mm2 pressure was found best for the manufacture of plywood. The physical and mechanical properties of hoop-pine particleboard were studied. The particleboards were tested for determining the strength and dimensional stability. The tensile strength passed the German and British standard specifications, bending strength found to nearest the Indian Standard but did not pass the German and British standard specifications.