Formaldehyde free particleboards from wood chip wastes using glutaraldehyde modified cassava starch as binder

Abstract

The study determined some physical and mechanical properties of particleboards produced from wood chip wastes and modified cassava starch (MCS). The native cassava starch was modified with 25% glutardialdehyde solution. Density, water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were evaluated based on Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilised to conduct the microstructural and elemental analyses of the particleboards. Density ranged from 0.21 to 0.54 g/cm3, WA ranged from 32.7 to 168.9% after 2 and 24 h immersion while TS ranged from 1.8 to 67.9% after 2 and 24 h immersion. Peak values at 3232.0 N/mm2 and 35.7 N/mm2 for MOE and MOR were recorded for the MCS bonded boards. SEM showed well-dispersed MCS granules on the surface of the particleboards while FTIR indicated the occurrence of aldehyde and ester forms attributed to MCS binder. The modified cassava starch bonded boards showed good prospects for utilization in non-load applications having displayed a better performance than the unmodified particleboards. Keywords: Wood fibres, Mechanical properties, Microstructural analysis, Mechanical testing