The Potential of Utilizing Kenaf Core in Particleboard Industry

Since it is possible to use all kinds of lignocellulosic materials in particleboard production, so the utilization of agricultural residue can be one of the solutions to provide raw materials of this industry. At the same time, it has other advantages such as reduction of forest resources consumption, added value, reduction of environmental destruction, jobs creating, etc. Cultivation of kenaf plant has a considerable expansion in the world due to its advantages such as short growing season, low echological requirement as well as long fibers. Therefore, in recent years, it has been considerable by researchers, and there have been different studies on the use of kenaf bark and core in the production of wood composite products. This research was carried out with the aim of investigating the possibility of particleboard production from kenaf core in combination with bagasse and also evaluation of physical and mechanical properties of the produced particleboard.

In this study, kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and bagasse were obtained from Ahvaz Sugarcane Research Institute and Neopan Karun Company, respectively. Debarked kenaf was first turned into chips and then into flakes that can be used for particleboard production. The other steps of particleboard production were included screening, drying, gluing, forming and pressing. Sample boards were made from lignocellulosic residue at two press time (4 and 5 minutes), two press temperature (170 and 180ᴼc) and four compositions (100:0, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 percent, kenaf core to bagasse). Other factors were as fixed factors such as resin consumption (10% based on dry material of the board) and press pressure (25 kg/cm2). Finally, a total of 48 laboratory boards were made based on different treatments and considering of three replications for each treatment. The specimens were then physically and mechanically tested as water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 hours soaking in water, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and internal bonding based on EN standard. The results were analyzed based on complete randomized design (CRD) under a factorial experiment by SPSS software. The mean comparison was evaluated using Duncan's multiple range test.

The results showed that the bending strength improved with increasing of press temperature and press time. Moreover, increasing of kenaf consumption in the composition of raw material improved the bending strength, modulus of elasticity and internal bonding of the boards. On the other hand, the results revealed that the water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 hours soaking in the water decreased with increasing of pressing temperature, pressing time as well as amount of kenaf in the composition of the raw material.

In general, the particleboards from combination of kenaf and bagasse have acceptable physical and mechanical properties. Also, the small use of bagasse in the composition of the raw material can provide acceptable characteristics in the boards; but in higher amounts, it causes a drop in the physical and mechanical properties of the boards. Therefore, kenaf lignocellulosic residue in combination with bagasse can be used as suitable raw materials in the particleboard industry.