Abstract
In this study the utilization of kermes oak Quercus coccifera L. wood, which could be used as an industrial raw material for the production of fiberboard, was investigated. In the experimental design, boards were produced from mixtures of kermes oak and brutian pine Pinus brutia Ten. fibers in ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0. The chemical and thermal characteristics of the fibers used were determined, and the effects of these characteristics on the physical and mechanical properties of the produced fiberboards were revealed. The main chemical component analysis indicated that kermes oak fibers contained higher quantities of extractives, α-cellulose, and hemicelluloses and a lower quantity of lignin compared to the brutian pine fibers. Analyses of the main chemical components were supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses and gas chromatographic determination of monosaccharides. The pH determination showed that kermes oak fibers were more acidic than the brutian pine fibers. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that kermes oak fibers had higher thermal stability than brutian pine fibers. An increase in kermes oak in the fiber mixture raised water absorption and thickness swelling TS but reduced the modulus of elasticity MOE , modulus of rupture MOR , and internal bond IB strength of the produced boards. The boards produced with 25% kermes oak fibers met the requirements of standard TS-EN 622-5 in terms of TS, MOE, MOR, and IB strength for load-bearing applications in dry conditions.
Highlights
Medium fiberboard density (MDF) is one of the fastest increasing composite panel products on the market among forest products (Ayrılmış, 2007, 2008; Çöpür et al, 2008)
We investigated kermes oak wood as a raw material for particleboard production after mixing with brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) wood and determined that kermes oak particles added up to 50% will produce particleboard that meets the requirements for general-purpose particleboard used in dry conditions according to standard thickness swelling (TS)-EN 312 (Güler and Yaşar, 2018)
The extractive α-cellulose and hemicellulose contents of kermes oak fibers were higher than those of brutian pine fibers, while the lignin content was lower in kermes oak fibers than in brutian pine fibers
Summary
Medium fiberboard density (MDF) is one of the fastest increasing composite panel products on the market among forest products (Ayrılmış, 2007, 2008; Çöpür et al, 2008). The physical and mechanical properties of MDF depend primarily on the characteristics of the raw materials (wood, binders, and other additives) and parameters of production (Akbulut et al, 2004). Wood fiber properties including fiber structure and strength, anatomical and chemical properties of fiber, and fiber composition (percentages of whole and broken fibers and fines) are considered to be basic characteristics influencing fiberboard properties because they occupy a large proportion of the total volume of panels (Maloney, 1977; Suchsland and Woodson, 1991; Groom et al, 1999). In Turkey the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) produced 20–20.5 million m3 of wood from forest areas; 16.6 million m3 of this yield is used annually as industrial raw material, but 21–22 million m3 of wood is consumed yearly by industry. Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera L.) is an evergreen hardwood species that is usually in brush form, especially in the Mediterranean flora (Akman, 1995; Kaya and Aladağ, 2009)
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