Properties of Laminated Composite Panels Made from Fast-Growing Species Glued with Mangium Tannin Adhesive

Abstract

Laminated composite is a wood panel constructed from timber pieces then are laminated together. Bio-adhesives such as tannin adhesive are a potential alternative to synthetic adhesives. The purposes of this study were to characterize the chemical makeup of tannin from mangium (Acacia mangium) bark extract and to determine the physical-mechanical properties of the panels made from jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) and sengon (Falcataria moluccana), and adhesives based on either mangium tannin or methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). The panels made from five layers of lamina were 5 cm × 24 cm × 120 cm in thickness, width, and length, respectively. Based on results from gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, mangium tannin had 34.04% phenolic compounds. Both wood species were low density, 0.31 g/cm3 for sengon and 0.44 g/cm3 for jabon, with an average moisture content of 12.4%. The panels had better width shrinkage than solid wood, with an anti-shrink efficiency of 72.5%. With regard to mechanical properties, none of the panels met the standard for the MOE or shear strength; however, sengon panel with MDI met the standard for MOR. In the delamination test, sengon panel was resistant to cold water immersion. All panels had low formaldehyde emission and met the standard requirements.