Assessment of dimensional stability and mechanical properties of particle board from wood particles & corn cob

Abstract

This study presents an experimental work which investigates the potentiality of sawdust - corn cob and top bond as adhesive for the  production of particle board which was manufactured under pressure by using manual hydraulic press. The mean values obtained for  water absorption and thickness swelling at both 24 hours and 48 hours ranged from 14.20 % to 35.65 % and 0.95 % to 35.05 %,  respectively, water absorption and thickness values increases as the period of test increased to 48 hours. After 24 hours, the values  obtained for water absorption and thickness swelling ranged from 14.20 % to 28.54 % and 0.95 % to 34.33 % but when the immersion  period increased to 48 hours, the values also increase by 15.76 % to 35.65 % and 2.89 % to 35.05%. While values obtained for mechanical  properties varies among the particle size and mixing ratio. The boards made from particle size had modulus of elasticity as 52.45 Nmm-² ,  42.37 Nmm^-2 and 59.03 Nmm^-2 and modulus of rupture as 0.57 Nmm-2 , 0.57 Nmm^-2 and 1.37 Nmm^-2 for fine, coarse and smooth  particle respectively. The outcome of mean comparison shows that board made from smooth particle had better strength and more rigid  than others, this study show that board made from 40/60 had the better strength and stronger than board made from 50/50 of adhesive  to wood residue ratio. The observations from the physical and mechanical properties results showed that the percentage water  absorptions of the immersed particle board increases with increasing time of immersion. Particle sizes of the solid material and adhesive ratio, pressing pressure in particle board manufacturing were important factors to determine its strength. Based on the results obtained  from this study, it is evident that particle boards can be produced from the mixture of wood particles and corn cob.