Properties of medium density fiberboard from rubberwood and leucaena in relation to wood ratio and resin content / Nur Othman Suratman

Properties of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) from Rubberwood and
Leucaena In Relation to Wood Ratio and Resin Content

This study used Leucaena and rubberwood species as the raw materials in
the manufacture of medium density fiberboard (MDF). The objective of this
study were to determine the physical and mechanical properties of MDF using
Leucaena and rubberwood and evaluate the effect of different wood ratios
and resin content on board properties. In this study, urea formaldehyde (UF)
was used as a binder and target board density was 700 kg/m3. Medium
density fiberboard was assessed for the mechanical (bending and internal
bonding) and physical (thickness swelling) properties according to European
Standard (EN 622-5:2006). Mechanical properties revealed the highest MOR
value is 15.09 MPa with resin content of 12% from wood ratios of 80%
Rubberwood and 20% Leucaena. However, the highest result for MOE is
2005 MPa and IB is 0.7 Mpa is obtain from wood ratios of 20% Rubberwood
and 80% Leucaena with 12% resin content. For the physical properties wood
ratio with 80% Rubberwood and 20% Leucaena and 12% resin content had
the best TS value with 21.59%. The results revealed that wood ratio shows
significant effect on board mechanical properties of MOR, MOE and TS
values. However, IB values were not significant.