Papers by Keyword: Wood Composite

Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pressing temperature on chemical modification of oil palm particles as raw material for particleboard manufacturing. This study aims to evaluate the properties of particleboard made from chemically modified oil palm biomass and to determine the effect of pressing temperature on the properties of the particleboard. Oil palm was used in this study due to the problem arose where an abundance of oil palm was left at the site to be rotten when undergoing the replanting process. Therefore, this research was conducted to utilise the abundant oil palm trunk to fulfill the need of wood-based panel in Malaysia. Samples of oil palm trunk were collected and ground into smaller particle before treated with glutardialdehyde solution. The treated oil palm particle then inserted into the mould with a dimension of 21 cm x 21 cm x 0.5 cm to get the uniform size of particleboard before undergoing the process of hot pressing. The temperature was set at 130 °C, 140 °C and 150 °C for 10 minutes under pressure of 500kgcm^-2 by using the hot pressing machine. Physical (density, moisture content, water absorption, and thickness swelling test) and mechanical (bending test) strength of the manufactured particleboard were tested afterward. The result showed that best particleboard was manufactured using 140 °C which yield the highest MOR of 3.09 N/mm² and 340.51 N/mm² for MOE.

Abstract: This research was carried out to investigate the morphology of particleboard by using lesser-known commercial timbers (LKCT) species which are well-known in scientific name as neolamarckia cadamba (NC) and endospermum diadenum (ED). NC and ED are fast growing species available in Peninsular Malaysia. Single layer particleboard was fabricated from urea formaldehyde (UF) blended with NC and ED at different species ratio. The morphological observation on particleboard was conducted using field emission scanning electron microscopy. Particleboard boards with different resin content and species ratio. The results indicated that 7:3 of NC: ED with ratio at 12% of UF have a significant effect in term of surface morphology compared to 1:0 of NC: ED. This can be proved through mechanical and physical properties testing where NC: ED particleboard panel with 7:3 ratio exhibit the highest strength according to EN standard. NC particles can be used as a raw materials to wood-based particleboard for general purpose application.

Abstract: The objective of the study was to characterize and to evaluate physical and mechanical properties of experimental particleboard panels made from rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) using modified starch-urea formaldehyde as binder. Panels were manufactured using 13% corn starch modified with glutardialdehyde with addition of 2 % urea formaldehyde resin and tested for their physical and mechanical properties. All of the particleboards satisfied the Japanese Industrial Standard which required 2000 N/mm², 8.0 N/mm² and 0.15 N/mm² for modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and internal bonding strength, respectively. The mechanical properties were comparable to those made using 15 % urea formaldehyde resin with reduction of formaldehyde fume was over 50 %.

Abstract: This research studied the effects of 4 types of additives, , wood powder, UV-absorber, impact modifier and pigment, on UV-stability of PVC/Wood-Pallet prepared by extrusion process. The amount of additive used was varied from 0 35 %w/w. The central composite design (CDD) was employed to experimentally design the formulation of PVC/Wood-Pallet, in order to practically reduce the total number of experiments from 625 pipes (Full factorial design for 4 factors and 5 levels) to 30 pipes without losing the credibility of the results achieved. The photodegradation of the PVC/Wood-Pallet was performed by an outdoor exposure test. The progress of photodegradation was followed by determining the changes in mechanical properties, physical properties and appearance, and thermal properties as a function of exposure time. The results showed that the PVC/Wood-Pallet No.30 had better mechanical properties than the others over period of exposure time. In addition, it was found that UV exposure could actually improve short-term mechanical properties due to postcuring phenomenon.

Abstract: In this study, the mechanical and thermal properties of green biocomposites adding natural dye were investigated by tensile test and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Poly(lactic acid), one of biodegradable polymers recently been interested for replacing petroleum-based polymers, was compounded with wood fibers to produce biocomposite, and natural dyes were introduced to improve appearance of biocomposite. Pine wood fibers were dyed with three types of natural dyes; yellow color from heartwood of Jackfruit tree, red color from Sappan wood, and blue color from Indigo blue. Prior compounding, original and dyed wood fibers were treated with silane to improve compatibility between wood fiber and polymer matrix. It is found that %crystallinity of alkali-treated and natural dyed wood/PLA biocomposites were significantly higher than original wood/PLA biocomposites. The modulus and tensile strength of natural dyed wood poly (lactic acid) composites were in the same level of alkali-treated wood composites; however, elongation at break was improved by natural dye.

Abstract: In this study, waste wood product obtained from the timber industry originating from various type of wood has been investigated. Research work carried out on the three different sizes of fiber derived from the sawdust (SW) and chip wood (CW). The SW and CW fiber and epoxy resin were blended together respectively using hand tools machine, all specimens of fiber composite were prepared accordance to the ASTM standards. Tensile and morphological properties provide an excellent measure of the degree of reinforcement provided by the fiber to the composite. The tensile modulus increased with the filler size from coast to rough of composites both SW and CW but decreases steadily with the wood–fiber size from rough to soft content. Statistical analysis using one way and two ways analysis of variances (ANOVA) showed that the differences of results obtained from those SW and CW fiber composite samples are significant, which confirm a very firm mechanical performance of the composites through tensile tests. This shows the producing a good quality of SW and CW fibres composite which maybe used for home furniture utilities.

Abstract: A study was conducted with the objective of gathering the information through flexural (three-point bending) testing. This research presents the testing results concerning the mechanical properties, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of natural fiber reinforced composite. Resin were used as a matrix and untreated wood fibres contents 14% by weight as a filler treatment parameters to obtain better compatibility involving wood fibres Sawdust (SW) and Chipwood (CW) and epoxy. The feasibility of processing the composite prepared manually from waste wood and epoxy using open molding was investigated. The tests that have been conducted are in according to ASTM (D790-97) for flexural properties test method. Statistical analysis using ANOVA one way and two way showed that the differences of results obtained from those SW and CW fiber composite samples are significant, which confirm a very firm mechanical performance of the composites through flexural tests. This shows the producing a good quality of SW and CW fibre composite which maybe can use for furniture utilities.

Abstract: For further researching the structural characteristics of Orientated strand board (OSB) mat, a three-dimensional model was developed using computer-aided design (CAD) technology to simulate behaviors of individual strands in the mat-forming process. This model provided a more realistic description of the mat structure than the previous simulations in using varied strand geometry and different types of strand orientation, defining strand location, and solving the problem of edge effect. This model can be used to analyze the impact of strand orientation on the number of strand overlaps, and to identify the relationship of strand orientation and the horizontal voids distribution in the mat. Information provided by this model is the basis of further studying the effect of the mat formation on panel void characteristics, and the relationship of the voids volume to panel properties.

Abstract: In this study, the absolutely recycled plastic wood (ARCPW) was fabricated with post-consumer high density polyethylene (HDPE) and wood flour from the saw mills. The alkaline, silane and maleic anhydride modified polypropylene (MAPP) were used as modifiers to treat wood fiber and improve the interfacial adhesion of ARCPW. Effects of wood fiber length, weight fraction and surface treatment on the mechanical properties of ARCPW were investigated. The flexural fracture surfaces of ARCPW were examined and the fracture mechanism of ARCPW was also analyzed in this paper. The results indicated that ARCPW with wood fiber simultaneously treated by alkaline, silane and MAPP possesses the best mechanical properties. The higher the content of wood fiber, the better the flexural strength of ARPCW. The interfacial adhesion of prepared ARCPW is ideal and a good compatibility between wood fiber and matrix was obtained.