PRODUCTION OF WOOD-SUBSTITUTED PARTICLE BOARD FROM CATTAIL AND AGRICULTURAL WASTES

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to 1) study the optimum ratios of cattail and agricultural wastes in the production of wood-substituted particle board, 2) study the properties of wood-substituted particle board derived from cattail and agricultural wastes, and 3) develop wood-substituted particle board products by examining five ratios of cattail and agricultural wastes in the production process: 1) cattail 90 g : PVA glue 100 g, 2) cattail 50 g : rice straw 30 g : PVA glue 100 g, 3) cattail 50 g : rice straw 30 g : husk 10 g : PVA  glue 100 g, 4) cattail 70 g : rice straw 20 g : husk 10g : PVA glue 100 g, and 5) cattail 70 g : rice straw 20 g : PVA glue 100 g. The results showed that wood-substituted particle board from cattail and agricultural waste in all five ratios possesses a light to dark brown appearance, smooth texture, strong adhesion, and no material fall-off. The best ratio was the third one, in which the properties of the particle boards were as follows: a density of 605.21 mg/m3, a moisture content of 12.78%, and a thickness swelling of 18.05%. These three properties meet the requirements of the Thai Industrial Standard (TIS. 966-2547). The internal bonding was found to be the highest at 0.37 MPa. The particle boards from cattail and agricultural wastes could be used as raw materials to produce prototype products including mobile phone holders and multipurpose boxes which are environmentally friendly and add value to cattail and agricultural wastes.