ZnO nanoparticle: production and use for particleboard improvement

Abstract

The need for more technological products increases with nanomaterials as a viable proposal, presenting good results in many different industrial sectors, especially in wood panels. Particleboards are composites of wood that have been extensively studied, mainly in relation to the adhesives used in their manufacture, which have an influence on particleboard properties. Thus, as a way of improving these adhesives, zinc oxide nanoparticles were added, giving new properties to the particleboard. Thereby, the present work aimed to produce particleboard with the wood of Eucalyptus Urophila x Grandis hybrid and urea-formaldehyde adhesive with ZnO nanoparticles addition. The physical tests performed were density, moisture content, and thickness swelling. The mechanical tests performed were the modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and bonding tests. The results obtained were submitted to statistical analysis and compared with the requirements standards, as well as with works found in the literature. The addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles did not exercise influence on mechanical tests; however, the physical properties were improved, mainly decreasing the thickness swelling, which is usually a problem for wood products.