The Effect of Board Density and Hot-Pressing Time on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Oil Palm Trunk Phenol Formaldehyde Particleboard

Abstract

This study was conducted on the oil palm (Elaeis guineensiss) trunk particles to determine the influence of hot-pressing time and board densities on the physical and mechanical properties of the particleboard. The oil palm plants are harvested after 25 years for replacement planting. The oil palm trunk (OPT) was felled from FELDA plantation in FELDA Jengka 25, FELDA Jengka 24 and FELDA Ulu Jempol, Pahang, Malaysia. In this study, OPT particleboard was made at 500, 600, and 700 kgm−3 density with 12% phenol formaldehyde resin content. Hot-pressing times used were 6, 8, and 10 min. The properties of particleboard studied were modulus of rapture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS). The results showed that when the board densities were increased from 500 to 700 kgm−3, all mechanical properties increased and physical properties decreased. When pressing time is increased from 8 to 10 min, it increased all the mechanical properties and decreased the physical properties of the board. The properties showed all boards produced at targeted board density of 500, 600, and 700 kgm−3 were able to meet the minimum strength requirement of BS EN 310, 319 (1993).