Abstract
The depletion of natural resources and increased demand for wood and wood-based materials have directed researchers and the industry towards alternative raw materials for composite manufacturing, such as agricultural waste and wood residues as substitutes of traditional wood. The potential of reusing walnut (Juglans regia L.) wood residues as an alternative raw material in particleboard manufacturing is investigated in this work. Three-layer particleboard was manufactured in the laboratory with a thickness of 16 mm, target density of 650 kg∙m−3 and three different levels (0%, 25% and 50%) of walnut wood particles, bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. The physical properties (thickness swelling after 24 h) and mechanical properties (bending strength, modulus of elasticity and internal bond strength) were evaluated in accordance with the European standards. The effect of UF resin content and nominal applied pressure on the properties of the particleboard was also investigated. Markedly, the laboratory panels, manufactured with 50% walnut wood residues, exhibited flexural properties and internal bond strength, fulfilling the European standard requirements to particleboards used in load-bearing applications. However, none of the boards met the technical standard requirements for thickness swelling (24 h). Conclusively, walnut wood residues as a waste or by-product of the wood-processing industry can be efficiently utilized in the production of particleboard in terms of enhancing its mechanical properties.
Highlights
The global demand for wood and wood-based materials is constantly increasing
It should not be expected that there will be a lot of this wood, because it is a remnant, not a wholesome quantitatively and qualitatively assortment, to recycled wood particles, residues from fruit orchards, urban wastes or residues from the production of wood products or food production waste
The boards produced with higher resin content and higher applied pressure achieved the highest mechanical properties. The bending strength (MOR) values
Summary
The global demand for wood and wood-based materials is constantly increasing. A problem for many companies and producers of wood and wood-based products is the insufficient amount of wood on the local market, which results in significant competition between wood-based industries. This competition will become more and more intense due to the expanding production capacities resulting in greater supply as a response to the growing demand [6,7]. The increase in wood prices may be caused by the global economic crisis, i.e., market and economic conditions. Since 2015, the amount of exported industrial roundwood from European countries has increased from approx. 66 million m3 to almost 78.5 million m3 in 2020 [15]
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