Optimum Process Parameters for Plywood Manufacturing using Soya Meal Adhesive

Abstract

In view of the environmental concern and the adverse health effects with the use of formaldehyde-based plywood adhesives, there is a renewed interest to develop bio-based adhesives alternate to the petroleum-based adhesives. Current efforts are towards the development of adhesives by using soya meal powder as a major composition. This adhesive is applied on the eucalyptus veneers which are hot pressed within the specified range of temperature and pressure for manufacturing plywood. The manufactured plywood samples are tested for the flexural strength using three-point bend test. The Taguchi approach is adopted and ANOVA analysis is performed for identifying the optimum plywood manufacturing parameters (viz. temperature and pressure) to achieve the optimum Modulus of Rupture (MOR). The flexural strength estimates using the additive law and the developed empirical relation are matching well with test results.