Effect of Particle Pre-Treatment on Properties of Jatropha Fruit Hulls Particleboard

Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of particle pre-treatment on physical, mechanical, and durability of jatropha fruit hulls (JFH) particleboard. The pre-treatments included were immersing in cold water, hot water, and acetic acid solution. After each treatment, the particles were dried up to 3% moisture content. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin was used to fabricate particleboards with board size, thickness and density target of 25 cm by 25 cm, 0.80 cm, and 0.70 g/cm3, respectively. Board pressed at 130°C for 10 minutes, and 25 kg/cm2 pressure. The evaluation of particleboard followed the JIS A 5908-2003. Whilist their resistance to subterranean termite test (mass loss, mortality, antifeedant value and feeding rate) refers to the Indonesian standard (SNI 01.7207-2006). The physical and mechanical properties of particleboards showed that all pre-treatments decreased the pH of particles. Overall, all particle immersing treatments resulted of better physical and mechanical properties of particleboard than those of untreated ones. The acetic acid treatment resulted the best physical and mechanical properties of particleboard. Based on the mass loss of JFH particleboard, hot water and acetic acid treated particleboards were classified into weak resistance to subterranean attack. The other two treatments were classified into very weak resistance. Hot water treated particleboard provided the highest mortality and antifeedant as much as 87.40% and 34.20%, respectively. Based on antifeedant classification, hot water treated particleboards were classified into moderately strong resistance, while other treatments were categorized into weak resistance. The lowest feeding rate value (45.30 μg/termite/day) was attained by hot water treatment.