Possibility of using the expanded polystyrene and rape straw to the manufacture of lightweight particleboards

Dorota Dziurka,Adam Derkowski,Dorota Dukarska,Radosstaw Mirski

doi:10.4067/s0718-221x2015005000057

Dorota Dziurka, Adam Derkowski + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-221x2015005000057

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Abstract

The study investigated the possibility of using rape straw and expanded polystyrene for the production of low density particleboards. Particleboards with the core layer made of wood chips or rape straw, partly substituted with polystyrene (7%), were manufactured within the density range of 500 – 650 kg/ m 3 , and resinated with MUF resin. Our study confirmed that wood chip-expanded polystyrene (WP) and wood chip-rape straw-expanded polystyrene boards (WRP), of density reduced to 600 kg/m 3 , met the mechanical requirements of the subject standard for boards intended for interior design (including furniture) and used in dry conditions. However, further density reduction required an increased resination of the core layer.

Highlights

One of the problems impeding the development of particle board industry is insufficient supply of wood
The results of mechanical properties and water resistance tests for the manufactured wood chipexpanded polystyrene (WP), and wood chip-rape straw-expanded polystyrene particleboards (WRP), depending on their density and resination rate, are shown in tables 3 and 4
As might have been expected, reduced density of the boards was accompanied by lower static bending strength, and this value was independent of the core layer composition (Figure 2)

Summary

Introduction

One of the problems impeding the development of particle board industry is insufficient supply of wood. This difficulty is due to a growing demand for wood from various branches of the wood processing industry, as well as the energy sector that uses the wood as biomass, as recommended in the EU requirements concerning the energy from renewable sources. A growing tendency is observed towards reducing the density of particleboards, those intended for the manufacture of furniture. Low density particleboards and MDF have been manufactured from the wood of the following species: birch, beech, spruce, poplar, pine, shorea, balsa, Keruing, cypress, Cunninghamia, Japanese cedar or paulownia (Clad 1982, Kawai et al 1985, 1986, Suda et al 1987a, Suda et al 1987b, Suematsu and Okuma 1988, Suematsu and Okuma 1989, Chen and Wu 1993, Qiaoi et al 2000, Clad and Pommer 1980, Kalaycioglu et al 2005, Borysiuk et al 2007)

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