Suitability of Melia dubia and Eucalyptus tereticornis for Particleboard production

Abstract

In this study the production of particleboard using two fast growing tree species viz., Eucalyptus tereticornis and Melia dubia and using Urea Formaldehyde as adhesive. This experiment was conducted in Centaury plywood industry, Chennai. The physical and mechanical properties of two tree species were assessed for the suitability of particleboard production. Based on the physical and mechanical properties of the wood, Particleboards were produced using Eucalyptus tereticornis (100%) and Melia dubia (100%) as raw material. Physical and Mechanical properties of both the particleboards were recorded. Particleboard using Eucalyptus tereticornis has recorded maximum density of 642 Kg/m3 with lower moisture content of 5.08%, observed minimum water in both 2hrs (18.26%) and 24hrs (51.45%) and also recorded minimum thickness swelling of 12.91%. In other hand Eucalyptus tereticornis based Particle board has Minimum Modulus of Rupture (MOR) of 12.30 N/mm2, minimum Screw withdrawal strength load of 1825Kg/m3 in face and 992 Kg/m3 in edge. Observed maximum Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) of 2098 N/mm2 with more Internal Bonding of 0.36 N/mm2. From this study, results clearly showed that, both fast growing tree species having good physical and mechanical properties for the production of particleboard but compare with these two tree species Eucalyptus tereticornis is highly suitable for production of good quality particleboards.