Application of seaweed-based adhesive in wood composite

Abstract

Abstract Utilization of urea formaldehyde as adhesive in the industry, particularly as a binder for wood composite products (e.g., particleboard) had risen up the health concern, whereby it is generally associated with health effects such as cancer. Environmental-friendly binder such as seaweed is a suitable alternative. In this study, the seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii, was cooked with different percentage ratios of chemicals [acid (sulfuric acid, H2SO4) and alkali (sodium hydroxide, NaOH)], followed by mixing the wood particles with different chemical cooking ratios to form particleboard. The results obtained from physical and mechanical tests proved that higher percentage of alkali in seaweed adhesive cooking promoted better physical properties in particleboard, while higher percentage of acid promoted better mechanical properties in particleboard.