Preparation and characterization of wood-cement particleboards produced using metakaolin, calcined ceramics and residues of Pinus spp.

Abstract

Because of the advantages of using natural materials and industrial wastes in the development of new value-added materials, this paper presents an attempt to use some of these materials that are available in Brazil as additions to prepare wood-cement particleboards and describes the durability of the resulting products. These natural materials and industrial wastes include metakaolin and calcined ceramic residue, which were used as additions in wood-cement particleboards produced with wood residues (particles of Pinus spp.). Panels made of cement and Pinus wood particles with the addition of either of two pozzolanas – 30% metakaolin (MK) or 50% calcined ceramic residues (CC) – were prepared by compression molding and were characterized. The amount of Ca(OH)2 or CH was determined based on theoretical considerations of the hydration reactions of the Portland cement used. The properties determined included the pozzolana activity index (PAI), modulus of elasticity and rupture after 28 and 91 days of curing and also after natural and artificial aging to assess the particleboards’ durability. The results revealed that both reference panels and those produced with pozzolanas presented significant losses of their physical and mechanical characteristics over time and due to accelerated aging. Morphological studies supported these observations.