Properties of particleboard made from rice husks and coconut husks in relation of varying resin content and board density / Mazlinda Marzuki

Rice husk and coconut husk were discarded as agriculture residues that are
available in large quantities and cheap. Moreover, the rice husks and coconut
husks are estimated to be burned after harvest. Hereby, I propose the usage
waste like rice husks and coconut husks as potential raw material for
particleboard provide an alternative in reducing material from wood particles.
This study determined the properties of particleboard made of a mixture of rice
husks (50%) and coconut husks (50%). At the same time, the effects of board
density (600kg/m3
, 700 kg/m3
, and 800 kg/m3
) and varying resin (Phenol
formaldehyde) contents which are 8, 10, or 12 % were investigated. Based on
the results modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and internal
bonding (IB) were increased by increasing resin content and board density
except for thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) that were
decreased for each increasing board density and resin contents. In this study the
higher value of MOR (11.12 MPa) and MOE (1238.51MPa) is indicates from 800
kglm3 with 12% of resin content. The better value of IB is 0.125 MPa from 700
kglm3 at 10% resin content respectively. The particleboards were evaluated and
the test conducted according to the European Standard (EN 312:2003).
Keywords: particleboard, Phenol formaldehyde, density, rice husks, coconut
husks