PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PARTICLEBOARD MADE FROM RICE HUSK

Abstract

In recent years, depleted resources and environmental concerns have stimulated research in recyclable and renewable materials for particle board production. This paper presents the research work on the production of particle boards using rice (Oryza glaberrima) husks and urea formaldehyde (UF) resin as an additives. The variable factors for the rice husk particle board densities were 800 kg/m3, 850 kg/m3 and 900 kg/m3 and pressing temperatures at 70 oC, 77.5 oC and 85 oC. The particle board panels were tested for their physical and mechanical properties. Predictive model was developed for the modulus of rupture. The average peak values obtained for the modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), linear expansion (LE), internal bending strength (IBS), thickness swelling (TS) and screw holding strength (SHS) were 22.19 N/mm2, 1934 N/mm2, 0.435 %, 0.35 N/mm2, 6.91 % and 932 N respectively. The results show that the MOR, MOE and IBS values obtained were not within the set criteria, except the MOR values of density 900 kg/m3 at 70 oC and 850 kg/m3 at 77.5 oC, IBS values of density 900 kg/m3 at 85oC and 850 kg/m3 at 77.5 oC. The SHS values obtained conform to the set standard, except with density of 800 kg/m3 at 77.5 oC and 850 kg/m3 at 85 oC. The R – square value of the predictive model was calculated to be 82.09 % which show a good correlation between experimental data presented in this study. Rice husk can be considered as a valuable renewable biomass, which could be used for the production of particle board for low cost housing.