Study on Particleboard made from Nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) stem wood and Rajkoroi (Albizia richardiana) wood

Abstract

The study was conducted to find out the suitability of making particleboard using nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) stem wood and rajkoroi (Albizia richardiana) wood chips. Particleboards were fabricated at six different ratios of nipa palm stem and rajkoroi wood chips such as 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 10:90 and 0:100. Characteristics of particleboards such as modulus of rupture, internal bond strength, water absorption, thickness swelling and moisture content were measured. Results shows that particleboards made from 100% rajkoroi wood chips have the highest static bending properties and highest tensile strength properties of other particleboards but 100% nipa palm stem wood chips have the lowest static bending and lowest tensile strength properties of other particleboards. 10% nipa palm stem wood chips particleboard have the highest bending strength and tensile strength is better than 100% nipa palm stem wood chips and other mixing chips of particleboards. Mechanical, water resistance and dimensional stability properties were tested according to Indian standard specification. Tensile strength passed the British and German standard specification and nearest to Bureau of Indian Standard, bending strength was found nearest to Indian Standard but lower than German and British Standard specification. Strength property of rajkoroi wood chips particleboard is higher than nipa palm steam wood chips particleboard but dimensional stability is lower than nipa palm steam wood chips particleboard.