The potential for using the sycamore (Platus orientalis) leaves in manufacturing particleboard

Abstract

Developing value-added products from any underutilized non-woody or woody material could play a critical role in economical development as well as forest resource management of any country. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of using the sycamore leaves in production of particleboard. Variable factors were as board density (0.6 and 0.7 g/cm 3 ), press time (4 and 6 min), and press temperature (140 and 160°C). Some chemical properties of the sycamore leaves (cellulose, holocellulose, lignin and ash contents, alcohol-benzene solubility, 1 % sodium hydroxide solubility, hot-and cold-water solubility), mechanical (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and internal bond strength) and physical properties (thickness swelling and water absorption) of the resulting particleboards were determined. Overall results showed that the mechanical properties of all the panels exceed the minimum requirements of European Norm for furniture manufacturing. The mechanical properties of particleboard were improved significantly as board density increased from 0.6 to 0.7 g/cm 3 and press time increased from 4 to 6 min. However, the effect of press temperature was not significant (P \ 0.05). Conclusively, sycamore leaves, an underutilized waste, can be an alternative raw material for particleboard industry and resulting value-added panels owing to their high mechanical properties and interesting design esthetics could be used for furniture and interior decoration.

Particleboard from wood particles and sycamore leaves: Physico-mechanical properties

“…Chemical composition of the raw material (lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses contents) has strong influences on the mechanical properties (Nemli et al, 2009;. Sycamore leaf has lower content of cellulose than its wood (Aghakhani et al, 2013). The unidirectional cellulose microfibrils constitute the reinforcing elements in the matrix blend of hemicellulose and lignin (Faruk et al, 2012).…”

“…Using light weight raw material can improve mechanical properties of wood composites as a result of high compaction ratio (Tabarsa et al, 2011). Higher water solubility and ash content of sycamore (Aghakhani et al, 2013) can weaken the bonding strength of resin and particles at higher sycamore leaves content (Ayrilmis et al, 2009a;Nemli et al, 2009;. Decreasing the mechanical properties at higher sycamore leaves contents can be due to its relatively lower characteristic properties and deterioration of the adhesive bond quality as a result of higher extractive contents.…”

“…Sycamore leaf has lower cellulose and hemicellulose but much higher extractives than its wood (Aghakhani et al, 2013). The holocellulose contain hydroxyl groups and is hydrophilic in nature that can absorb water (Gown et al, 2010;Nourbakhsh et al, 2011).…”

“…However, 4% of isocyanate gives panels the results which are comparable to those of boards bonded with 8% of a phenolic resin (Dunky and Pizzi, 2002) and 7% of a phenolic resin gives panels the results which are comparable to those of boards bonded with 10% of UF (Doosthoseini, 2002). Aghakhani et al (2013) investigated the physical and mechanical properties of sycamore leaves based panels and effect of production parameters on the resulting panels. They found that mechanical properties of the sycamore leaves based panels exceed the requirements of EN Standards and density and press time were the main parameters influencing the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting panels.…”

Improving physical and mechanical properties in particleboard by recycled polyethylene and canola residues

“…7 Cluster analysis among the 18 different treatments based on the physical and mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bond, water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 h immersion in water) (PE polyethylene, Canol canola content, Adh adhesive content) panels. Previously, sycamore leaves and CCA-treated pine wood were used as part of the lignocelluloses materials for the production of wood plastic composites with promising results (Kamdem et al 2004;Aghakhani et al 2013).…”