Quality of particleboard produced with different proportions of wood and capim-annoni

Abstract

The application of alternative raw materials to manufacture particleboards has gained considerable attention and it is now the objective of various studies. The capim-annoni (Eragrostis plana Nees.) is an invasive grass in the southern fields of Brazil and appears to be an example of such materials. This study aimed to verified the suitability of capim-annoni as a substrate in particleboards manufacturing. Three different proportions of wood (Pinus sp.) and capim-annoni were used, and two binders were tested (urea-formaldehyde and tannin-formaldehyde). Particleboard quality was assessed through evaluation of the following features physical-mechanical properties: moisture content, density, water absorption and thickness swelling (after 2 and 24 h of immersion in water), and static bending, internal bonding, screw withdrawal and Janka hardness. Results of physical-mechanical properties were greatest in particleboard produced exclusively with pine wood and decreased as the percentage of capim-annoni increased. However, mixtures of pine particles with capim-annoni particles were effective in homogenizing plate density, which could make these particleboards suitable for applications not requiring high requests, such as thermal and acoustic insulation, decoration and small crafting.