Investigation into dimensional and strength properties of cement bonded particleboard produced from agro-waste (maize cob) and <i>Sterculia tragacantha</i> sawdust

Abstract

Agricultural waste management is part of the ecological cycle in which everything is cycled and recycled, recycling is maintained in the eco-system by waste management, all the plant wastes are placed at the right place and right time for the best utilization in order to convert into useful products and pollution control. This study examined the use of agro-waste (maize cob) and Sterculia tragacantha sawdust at varying blending proportions to produce cement particle boards. Boards of dimensions 35cm by 35cm by 1cm were produced from cement and agro-waste (maize cob) and Sterculia tragacantha sawdust at different blending proportionswith additive (CaCl2) at different concentration. Physical properties such as water absorption and thickness swelling, and mechanical properties (Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)) were investigated. It was observed that the lowest mean values of water absorption of 24 and 48 hours was 12.42% and 16.44% respectively which were obtained at the highest proportion of maize cob particle content and additive concentration of 3% while the highest mean values at 24 hrs and 48 hrs at 24.26%, and 26.23% respectively were obtained at the lowest maize cob particle content and lowest additive concentration of 1%.

The mean values of thickness swelling at 24 hours ranged from 0.61% to 2.92%, with the lowest value showing the least swollen board. The mean values of the thickness swelling at 48 hours ranged from 1.30% to 3.18%. The thickness swelling increased as the quantity of maize cob particles decreased. Mean values of MOE and MOR obtained for this study ranged from 339.48 N/mm3 to 3425.73 N/mm3 and 2.10 N/mm3 to 4.56 N/mm3 for all the blending ratios and additive concentrations. These results show that strength properties of, the board are greatly influenced by blending proportion. From the results obtained in this study, weight gained, weight lost, volumetric shrinkage, and strength properties were influenced by production variables.it can therefore be concluded that particles made from agro-waste and wood particles of Sterculia tragacantha could be recycled for particleboard production. The results of the sorption properties revealed that the particleboards can favorably withstand dry and wet climatic conditions.