Abstract
Due to the rising prices and high demand for panels and the fact that formaldehyde—a known carcinogen—is used to manufacture conventional particleboard, this study investigated the suitability of particleboard formed from ground macadamia nutshells mixed with 50%, 40%, 30%, and 20% of gum Arabic and determined its physical and mechanical properties. The specific gravity, the bulk density, the x-ray fluorescence, and the scanning electron microscopy analysis of the two materials were analyzed. After production, the particleboards were cured for 56 days in an acclimatized room; then, the physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. Particleboards mixed with 50% gum Arabic and 50% macadamia nutshell showed good results in terms of the lowest average values of water absorption (9.42%) and thickness swelling (6.22%) after 24 h of immersion in distilled water as well as the highest density (1219.20 kg/m3), modulus of rupture (12.21 MPa), modulus of elasticity (1.81 GPa), internal bond strength (1.25 MPa), and compressive strength (22.54 MPa). According to ANSI/A208.1-1999, the particleboards produced met the standard for general-purpose boards except for water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) characteristics, which were above the maximum of 8% and 3%, respectively.
Highlights
Global population growth is increasing the demand for wood for construction and increasing its price
This study evaluates the physical and mechanical properties of manufacturing particleboard made with macadamia nutshells and gum Arabic
Urea-formaldehyde has a density of gravity of 1.269 [32] approximately, which is less than the gum Arabic value, and it can be used as an alternative material that can increase the performance of the mechanical property of panels
Summary
Global population growth is increasing the demand for wood for construction and increasing its price. This massive demand has resulted in an increase in deforestation, which is negatively influencing global climate change. Most particleboards produced are made from waste wood and urea-formaldehyde, both of which are in high demand for various applications, including building materials, work surfaces, laboratory whiteboards, and office work surfaces. Typical particleboards are constructed utilizing wood-based components and synthetic resin adhesives or other manufactured binders. Melamine-ureaformaldehyde (MUF), polycarbonic anhydrides, triglycerides polymeric substance (PTP resin), isocyanides, urea-formaldehyde (UF), and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) are a few examples of such binders [1]. Researchers produce panels based on natural materials such as chestnut [7] or sugarcane bagasse [8], for example
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