Development of Eco‐Friendly Medium‐Density Particleboard Bonded by Suberinic Acids

This study aims development of wood-based particleboard contributing to resource, environmental and health impact issues. Conventional particleboard industry uses synthetic, mostly formaldehyde-based adhesives concerning environmental, health and utilization risks. Due to the increase of prices, restrictions and competition in wood processing industry the issue of biomass resources for particleboard production gains another primary importance. Responding to the outlined issues the study investigates suitability of available sawdust resources from production residues of cellular wood materials and recycled particleboards combined with natural suberinic acids as binder derived from birch outer bark. Impact of furnish structure, binder content (15–21%), pressing temperature (190–220 ℃), pressing rate (0.9–1.7 min/mm) and density (650–850 kg/m3) on the obtained particleboard properties was evaluated. Results show that it is possible to achieve requirement values proposed for boards for use as interior fitments including furniture according to EN 312, Type P2 for thickness swelling (≤ 17%) and internal bonding (≥ 0.40 N/mm2). The bending properties of the obtained particleboards are very close to the requirement values (MOE ≥ 1800 N/mm2, MOR ≥ 11 N/mm2), suggesting for the further improvement at the target density levels. Furnish structure, board thickness, density and pressing temperature are the most influencing factors on the achieved properties.