Strength properties of chipboards available in Tanzania market

Abstract

Chipboard is among the wood based boards with high influx in the  Tanzania market. Most of the properties of the chipboard entering Tanzania markets are not clearly stated. There has been a notion among users of the chipboards consumers to believe that boards from outside Tanzania are the best, thus impacting the local markets negatively. This study was conducted to determine physical and mechanical properties of chipboards available in Tanzanian. Properties determined and compared included board Moisture contents, density, Modulus of rupture (MOR), Modulus of elasticity (MOE), Internal bond strength (IB) and Strength retention. Prices of the boards were influenced by board origin, size and
appearance. The boards had moisture contents of 10.7 and 10.5%; densities of 626.6 and 614.8 kg/m3, MOR of 7.4 and 6.7 N/mm2, MOE of 1568 and 1190 N/mm2, IB of 0.3 and 0.6 N/mm2 from Tanzania and Kenya respectively. The results show that Tanzania chipboards had high strength values however fetched low price. The reason behind this could be
surface appearance which is not good for Tanzania chipboards, thus should work to improve appearance and some board qualities. Manufactures should supply boards with its properties in markets as boards were found to vary in properties.

Key words: chipboards, strength properties, density, modulus of rupture,
modulus of elasticity