Jamaludin Kasim

Manufacture and properties of oil palm particleboard

Malaysia has a total of more than 4 million hectares of oil palm plantation. Besides the palm oil, the industry generates massive quantities of oil palm trunks (OPT), oil palm fronds (OPF) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) available from replanting and through routine field and mill operation. With a 25 years rotation of planting regime, 70,000 hectares is due for replanting every year and it is estimated that about 21.63 million cubic meters (14 million tones) of oil palm trunk will be available. If this raw material is not utilized properly they will be a source of environmental concern. This paper discussed the manufacture and properties of particleboard made from oil palm trunk particles. The oil palm trunk (25 yrs old) was supplied by MPOB, Bangi, Selangor. The trunk was converted into strands using a disk flaker and into particles by passing through a dust extractor. Single layered UF board and three-layered board were made and their properties determined. Boards make from unscreened particles with 700kg/m3 density, 12% resin content and without wax have the highest MOR (26.76 MPa) and MOE (2843 MPa) values. Lowest MOR & MOE values was exhibited by boards produced from PS of >1.0 mm with 500kg/m3 density, 8% resin content and 1% wax. Highest IB (1.54 MPa) was shown by boards made from >1.0 mm PS with 700 kg/m3 density, 12% resin and without wax. No boards were able to meet all the requirements of the BS Standards. Particleboard can be made from oil palm trunk particles, however further studies have to be conducted to improve their properties.

Mechanical Properties of Homogenous and Heterogeneous Three Layered Particleboard Composite in Relation on Different Resin Content

Two types of three layered particleboard composite, homogeneous (Acacia mangium core-face/back) and heterogeneous (Acacia mangium core, mixed sawdust face/back) were fabricated with three different resin contents and densities. Three different resin content; 8:10:8, 10:10:10 and 12:10:12, were use with 500, 600 and 700kg/m3 board densities. Urea Formaldehyde (UF) was used as a binder and 1% of wax was added. The properties of bending strength (MOR & MOE) and internal bond strength (IB) were evaluated based on Japanese Industrial Standard; JIS A 5908:2003 Particleboard (2003). The results showed that there were relationship between resin contents and densities on homogeneous and heterogeneous particleboard composites. Result obtained indicated that bending and internal bond strength of homogeneous composite bonded using ratio of 12:10:12 resin content with 700kg/m3 density was better compared to ratio of 8:10:8 and 10:10:10 resin contents. When the densities were increased, the mechanical properties also increased.

Properties of single-layer urea formaldehyde particleboard manufactured from commonly utilized malaysian bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii )

Gigantochloa scortechinii, one of the most widespread bamboo species in Peninsular Malaysia was investigated for its suitability as a raw material for particleboard production. A total of 120 bamboo culms from three different age groups (1-, 2- and 3-yr-old) were harvested from managed bamboo clumps in FRIM. The bamboo particles produced from the flaking process were used in the making of single-layer urea formaldehyde particleboard. The particleboards produced were then tested for their mechanical properties and dimensional stability according to British Standard Methods. The results of the tests showed that age, resin content and board density significantly affected the single-layer particleboard properties. Irrespective of bamboo age, particles of Gigantochloa scortechinii are suitable materials for the manufacture of urea formaldehyde particleboards.

The Effect of Board Density and Hot-Pressing Time on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Oil Palm Trunk Phenol Formaldehyde Particleboard

This study was conducted on the oil palm (Elaeis guineensiss) trunk particles to determine the influence of hot-pressing time and board densities on the physical and mechanical properties of the particleboard. The oil palm plants are harvested after 25 years for replacement planting. The oil palm trunk (OPT) was felled from FELDA plantation in FELDA Jengka 25, FELDA Jengka 24 and FELDA Ulu Jempol, Pahang, Malaysia. In this study, OPT particleboard was made at 500, 600, and 700 kgm−3 density with 12% phenol formaldehyde resin content. Hot-pressing times used were 6, 8, and 10 min. The properties of particleboard studied were modulus of rapture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS). The results showed that when the board densities were increased from 500 to 700 kgm−3, all mechanical properties increased and physical properties decreased. When pressing time is increased from 8 to 10 min, it increased all the mechanical properties and decreased the physical properties of the board. The properties showed all boards produced at targeted board density of 500, 600, and 700 kgm−3 were able to meet the minimum strength requirement of BS EN 310, 319 (1993).

Effects of Resin Content Dosage, Density and Wax Addition on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particleboard from Oil Palm Trunk

This study investigates the effects of resin dosage, board density and wax addition on physical and mechanical properties of oil palm trunk particleboard. The oil palm trunk was harvested from FELDA Ulu Jempul, Pahang and flaked to produce the particles. The particles were blended with urea formaldehyde (UF) as a binder and added with wax in order to enhance board dimensional stability. The oil palm trunk particleboards are consolidated at temperature of 165 °C with pressure cycle of 1800, 1200 and 500 psi for six minutes. Mechanical properties, namely, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), physical properties of water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS), are tested according to Japanese Industrial Standards (Particleboard, Japanese Standards Association, Japan, 2003). The results for different resin contents show that the particleboards with 12% resin content have given better performance in physical and mechanical properties as compared to 10% and 8%. Besides, the results for different densities show that the mechanical properties of particleboards improve as the density increases which was the particleboard with density 600 kg/m3 with MOR and MOE of 6.81 and 957.17 MPa, respectively, which gives the best performance. Addition of 1% wax was improve the physical properties of the board from 15.6 to 36.9%. However, wax addition gives negative impact on the mechanical properties of particleboard.

Effects of Different Tenon Width Dimensions on T-Joints

There are many types of wood joinery used in carpentry projects, one of which is the mortise and tenon. Mortise and tenon are used in wooden school chairs, which need to be durable due to its frequent usage. The objective of this paper was to determine strength properties on three different tenon width of 25, 30, and 35 mm. Tree species that was used was Shorea leprosula or also known as Meranti Tembaga in Malaysia. In constructing the joints, gluing technique of brushing was applied to the mortise and tenon, then clamped and conditioned for 24 h. Two mechanical tests were undergone for this study, which were bending and tensile tests to evaluate the strength properties of each T-joints. ANOVA test using SPSS was evaluated to determine strength properties and its effect on different tenon width. Based on the results, the width dimension of 35 mm was reported to have the highest bending and tensile strength properties. The study concluded that tenons with wider dimensions have higher strength values.

Effects of Ratio on Particleboard from Cultivated Leucaena leucocephala (Petai Belalang) and Hevea brasiliensis (Rubberwood)

Suitability of new raw material for particleboard can be measured by testing the mechanical and physical properties’ performance. The objective of this study was to determine the strength of the particleboard manufactured by using different ratios of Leucaena leucocephala (petai belalang) and Hevea brasiliensis (rubberwood). Increasing ratio of L. leucocephala particles gave a positively significant increase in modulus of elasticity (MOE) and internal bonding (IB). Highest MOE was 3086 MPa with an 80:20, L. leucocephala: H. brasiliensis ratio. For physical properties, higher ratio of L. leucocephala leads to lower performance in physical strength. Resin content gave higher results for MOE and MOR and no significant change in IB with increase in percentage used. A strong negative correlation (r = −0.84**) was seen for resin content percentage. Overall, only board made with ratio 20:80 and board with 8% resin content did not meet the minimum required standard in BS EN. The study on the effects of ratio on the properties of particleboard indicated that the strength of the mechanical properties can be improved by increasing L. leucocephala ratio.

Effect of Filler Loadings on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Particleboard Sanderdust–Polypropylene Composite

Particleboard sanderdust is a waste available in large quantities during the production of particleboard. In this study, the sanderdust was collected and processed as filler in polypropylene matrix and become particleboard sanderdust–polypropylene composite. Different amounts of sanderdust (10, 30, and 50%) were used in this experiment. Flexural modulus of rupture (FMOR), flexural modulus of elasticity (FMOE), tensile modulus of rupture (TMOR), tensile elongation, and izod impact for mechanical properties and for physical properties water absorption were tested. All tests of flexural, tensile, impact, and water absorption were evaluated in accordance with ASTM (2006). It was found that the strength of the composite board increases as the amount of filler loading decreases. As filler loading increases, the percentage of water that is absorbed in the WPC also increases. All findings obtained from the variable of different filler loadings were significantly different. The outcomes of this research can be used as guide and support the future research.

NaOH Treatment on Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis) Frond and Its Effects on Polypropylene Composite Properties

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) frond (OPF) is proven to be feasibly used as a natural filler in polypropylene (PP) matrix. Hence, this study looks forward to examining the benefits of surface modification on OPF by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and its effect on 50 wt% filler-loaded OPF–PP composite. The immersion technique treatment with NaOH (concentrations 0, 2, and 4%) was used to modify the OPF surface. The impact of this treatment on composite was also tested with and without 3% maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP). Results obtained showed that the mechanical properties of the composites filled with the alkali-treated filler and cross-linked with MAPP were improved. Regression analysis proved the positive trend of composite performance for filler treated with NaOH. R2 of all derived equations for each strength property is >60%. This showed a strong relationship between NaOH treatment, MAPP addition, and the OPF–PP composite properties. Scanning electron micrographs showed the reduction of unwanted materials clogging the surface of the treated particles and leaving the cell cavity hollow and clean. The findings are hoped to be the benchmark of applying one of the significant methods in fabricating OPF–PP composite and as information source for future researches.

Mechanical and Dimensional Stability Properties of Particleboard from Neolamarckia cadamba Wood

Neolamarckia cadamba tree is a viable alternative substitution material in the particleboard industry as it is a fast-growing species that has many benefits. Urea formaldehyde was used as a binder in this study. Experimental three-layer particleboard panels of N. cadamba tree were fabricated from two different sizes of 1.0 and 2.0 mm and used three different resin contents which were (7:9:7, 9:9:9 and 11:9:11). This study focuses on the influence of urea formaldehyde on the mechanical and dimensional stability properties. Modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding (IB), water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) were evaluated in accordance with the Japanese Industrial Standard: Particleboards for General Purpose (2003). The results showed that there was relationship between resin contents and particle sizes of three-layer particleboard composites. Result obtained showed that bending and internal bond strength particleboard using ratio of 11:9:11 resin content with 700 kg/m3 density was better compared to ratio of 7:9:7 and 9:9:9 resin contents. When the resin content was increased, the mechanical properties also increased and physical properties decreased. Large particle sizes were found effect in bending and bonding properties.