Influence of pressing time, temperature and board densities on the properties of particleboard from oil palm trunk / Ermadasila Mohamad

This study was conducted on the oil palm (Elaeis guineensiss) trunk particles to determine the influence of pressing time, temperature and board densities on the particleboard properties and its suitability as a raw material for the manufacture of single layer particleboard. The properties of particleboard were determined based on British Standard (BS). Raw material was felled from the FELDA plantation in FELDA Jengka 25, FELDA Jengka 24 and FELDA Ulu Jempol, Pahang, Malaysia. The oil palm plants are harvested after 25 years old for replacement planting. The particleboard was made at 500 kgm-3, 600 kgm-3, and 700kgm-3 density. The resin content use in this study was 12 % of phenol formaldehyde. Hot pressing temperatures used in this study were 165 °C and 17 5 °C. The pressing times used were 6, 8 and 10 minutes. For particle geometry, only 2.0 mm particle size was used in this study and the board thickness was 12 mm. The properties of particleboard studied were modulus of rapture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS).The result showed when the board densities increased from 500 kgm-3 to 700 kgm-3, all mechanical properties increased and physical properties decreased. The pressing time increased from 8 to 10 min also increased all the mechanical properties and decrease the physical properties of the board. Meanwhile for the press temperature when increase from 165°C to 175°C, the results showed the decrease of the mechanical properties but increase in physical properties. The properties showed all boards produced with hot pressing time of 8 and 10 min and 165 °C press temperature, at targeted board density of 500, 600 and 700 kgm-3 were able to meet the minimum strength requirement of BS EN 310, 319 (1993). However, only 6 min and 10 min hot pressing time and 175 °C hot pressing temperature, with board density of 700 kgm-3 able to meet all the minimum strength requirement of BS EN 310,319 (1993) and BS EN 317 (1993). Boards produced with press cycle 10 min and 165°C, at target board density of 700 kgm-3 were observed to possess the highest value of mechanical properties of MOR (34 MPa), MOE (4027 MPa), and IB (1.0 MPa). In general, the particltIDoard with hot pressing time 8 and 10 minutes for 500 kgm-3 and all the boards produced with 165°C press temperature surpassed the minimum strength of the BS EN standard for mechanical properties.