Effects of different resin content and particle sizes on properties of three layered particleboard using oil palm frond / Siti Noorbaini Sarmin, Jamaludin Kassim and Ahmad Sardey Idris

The objective of this study was to examine the properties of three layered particleboard from oil palm frond (OPF)
at different ratios of resin content and particle sizes within face/back and core. Four different ratios of resin content;
12: 10: 12, 12:8: 12, 10:10: 10 and 10:8: 10 were used with the particle size of2mm for core and 1mmfor face/back. Urea
Formaldehyde (UF) was used as a binder with addition of wax and without wax. The target density was 500kg/m3
• The properties of bending strength, internal bonding (IB), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) were evaluated
base on l1S A-5908 standard The results, showed that modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity were perform better
with particleboard using ratio 12:8:12 bonded with UF without wax and meet the standard The internal bond strength
was parallel with bending strength except for board using 12:10:12 ratio bonded using UF. with addition of wax. Samples
using resin content at12:8: 12 ratio had the lowest thickness swelling and water absorption but did not meet the above
standard. The thickness swelling and water absorption rates were reduced in samples prepared with addition of wax. The
ratio of resin content within the layers affected the properties of particleboard manufactured from oil palm frond Based
on the findings of this study, oil palm frond has the potential to be used in manufacturing particleboard, and further study
is required to improve its dimensional stability.