Physical and mechanical properties of wood cement bonded particleboard from 16 years old Petai Belalang

Cement bonded particleboard (CBP) from 16 years old Petai Belalang (Leucaena leucocephala) tree were examined and manufactured for their suitability as a construction material under laboratory condition. CBP produced at wood cement ratio of 1:2.0, 1:2.25, and 1:2.5 has been produced and their mechanical and physical properties were evaluated and the Malaysian Standard is used as standard requirement. The unscreened particles were used in board manufacturing. The treatment on the particles during mixing using aluminium sulphate and sodium silicate as an accelerator. The ealier results show unscreened particles size are potential to pass the minimum standard requirement for Modulus of Rupture (MOR), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Internal Bonding (IB), Thickness Swelling (TS), and Water Absorption (WA) meet and pass the requirement of the Malaysia Standard.