PROPERTIES OF PARTICLEBOARD PANELS MADE OF SUGARCANE PARTICLES WITH AND WITHOUT HEAT TREATMENT

ABSTRACT The objective of this work was to determine the properties of particleboard panels made of “in natura” sugarcane bagasse particles, heated at 250 °C for 5 minutes. Various particle proportions were utilized to produce the panels and their properties were compared with that of a panel made of Pinus sp. The panels were produced with 8% tannin formaldehyde adhesive, and 0.5% paraffin emulsion, being pressed at 32 kgf.cm-2 for 10 minutes at 180 ° C. It was determined the basic density of the “in natura” and heat-treated particles, their chemical composition, as well as the compression ratio necessary to obtain panels with density equal to 0.75 g.cm-3. The basic density of the panels, hygroscopic equilibrium humidity, thickness swelling, linear expansion, water vapor adsorption, modulus of elasticity and rupture, perpendicular traction, screw pullout, and Janka hardness were determined. The basic densities of Pinus particles and sugarcane bagasse without and with heat treatment were 0.46, 0.27 and 0.30 g.cm-3, respectively. The average specific mass of the panels was 0.74 g.cm-3 with no significant difference between them. Generally, panels made of sugarcane particles were less hygroscopic and dimensionally more stable than panels made of Pinus particles. However, the perpendicular tensile strength, screw pullout and Janka hardness of these panels were higher than for the Pinus panels. The heat treatment of sugarcane bagasse particles resulted in better mechanical properties of perpendicular traction and Janka hardness. In general, the panels are within the limits set by ANSI A208.1. It is therefore possible to replace panels made of Pinus particles for the ones made of sugarcane bagasse, provided that at least 25% of the particles are heat treated for 5 minutes at 250 ° C.