Effect of number of recycling time on physical and mechanical properties of binderless particleboards from jatropha press cake

Abstract

In this study, the binderless particleboards from jatropha press cake were recycled five times. The effects of number of recycling times on physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards were investigated. This information is important to determine how many times the recycling process is carried out so that the physical and mechanical properties will still meet the standards. The mechanical properties of the produced particleboard (modulus of rupture/MOR and modulus of elasticity/MOE) tended to decrease linearly with the increasing number of recycling process up to the 5th recycle. The produced particleboard had a density of the target of 0.9 g/cm3 with the condition of pressing temperature of 180 °C and the pressing press of 200 kgf/cm2 for 10 min. Thickness swelling, water absorbance, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and internal bonding of the produced particleboard did not meet the standard of Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) A 5908. Therefore, the protein which serves as a natural adhesive has not maximally functioned in the binding with the particles of the jatropha press cake.