Hornification Treatment of Pseudo-Stem Fibers to Enhance Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particle-Board

Abstract

The environmental, social, and economic advantages of using biomass fibers for particle-board based inorganic matrices have drawn attention to the fiber treatments, despite the fact that particle board's low durability which is demonstrated by the degradation of biomass fibers due to environmental factors and volumetric-dimensional instability limits their use. In order to increase the stability and durability of the fiber in a matrix made of fiber-boards, This study was designed to investigate the effects of fiber treatment hot pressed particle-board with urea formaldehyde acting as a binder. The particle-board mixes (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 and 50:50%) of pseudo stem fibers and urea formaldehyde and was hot pressed for 10 minutes at 120°C. Investigation was conducted to assess the effect of fiber treatment procedures on the structural and performance characteristics of the particleboard. The physical, mechanical, and internal bonding characteristics of the particle-board, was determined. The particle-boards densities are unrelated to one another. The least water absorption and thickness swelling values was obtained from honificated particle-board for all mixes due to the collapse of the fiber pores and was suitable for outdoor building applications. Hornification reduced water absorption by 60-70% compared to untreated fibers, and improved internal bonding strength to 2.0 MPa at 80:20 mix ratio, having beneficial physical qualities than other form of fiber treated particle-board samples. The modulus of elasticity value was found increasing as the concentration of adhesive increases in all treated particle-board samples. However, as the concentration of adhesive decreases there is a significant increase observed in the modulus of rupture values. Internal bonding tends to increase as the quantity of adhesive increases for all samples. Well compacted particleboard was obtained from the hornificated fiber samples, as the treatments enhanced fiber surface characteristics, interfacial adhesion, and superior structural performance.