Properties of kenaf core binderless particleboard reinforced with kenaf bast fiber-woven sheets

Abstract

Kenaf composite panels were developed using kenaf bast fiber-woven sheets as top and bottom surfaces, and kenaf core particles as core material. During board manufacture, no binder was added to the core particles, while methylene diphenyldiisocyanate resin was sprayed to the kenaf bast fiber-woven sheet at 50 g/m2 on a solids basis. The kenaf composite panels were made using a one-step steam-injection pressing method and a two-step pressing method (the particleboard is steam pressed first, followed by overlaying). Apart from the slightly higher thickness swelling (TS) values for the two-step panels when compared with the one-step panels, there was little difference in board properties between the two composite panel types. However, the two-step pressing operation is recommended when making high-density composite panels (>0.45 g/cm3) to avoid delamination. Compared with single-layer binderless particleboard, the bending strengths in dry and wet conditions, and the dimensional stability in the plane direction of composite panels were improved, especially at low densities. The kenaf composite panel recorded an internal bond strength (IB) value that was slightly low because of the decrease of core region density. The kenaf composite panel with a density of 0.45 g/cm3 (one-step) gave the mechanical properties of: dry modulus of rupture (MOR) 14.5 MPa, dry modulus of elasticity (MOE) 2.1 GPa, wet MOR 2.8 MPa, IB 0.27 MPa, TS 13.9%, and linear expansion 0.23%.