Effect of Association of Sugarcane Bagasse with Eucalyptus Wood on the Quality of Particleboard

Abstract

Particleboard industries, which are progressively increasing in number, consume a significant amount of wood from planted forests, mainly from the Pinus and Eucalyptus genera. However, these panels can be produced from any lignocellulosic material that provides high mechanical strength and good physical characteristics. Accordingly, the waste generated by the Brazilian agribusiness industry is an alternative resource for manufacturing particleboards. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the combination of sugarcane bagasse and eucalyptus wood on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboards. The panels were produced with sugarcane bagasse in the proportion of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% supplemented with E. urophylla. The panels were produced with 9% urea-formaldehyde adhesive, nominal density of 0.70 g/cm3, and with the pressing cycle of 160°C temperature, specific pressure of 3.92 MPa, and operation time of 8 min. The significance of the proportion of sugarcane bagasse on all physical and mechanical properties was evaluated. The panels with the combination of wood with sugarcane bagasse showed the lowest values ​​in the physical properties and the highest values ​​in the mechanical properties. Only panels prepared with 25% and 50% sugarcane bagasse met all the requirements of the marketing standards.