Physical properties of particle board from paddy straw, an agricultural waste

Abstract

Paddy straw, which is abundantly found in northern region of Malaysia as waste product from agriculture sector had been used as a raw material for particle board in this research. By means of 20, 30, 35, 40 and 45 wt % of urea formaldehyde as binding agent, the density and flexural modulus strength of each sample were investigated. The results show that both the density and flexural modulus strength of the sample is proportional to the UF composition used. Straw particle board with 20 wt % of UF record the lowest density and flexural modulus strength values, 0.4252 g/cm3 and 210 MPa respectively. Straw particle board with 50 wt % of UF, in the meantime produces the highest value of density, 0.6055 g/cm3 and also the highest value of flexural modulus strength of 1010 MPa. The results were also in agreement with SEM imaged captured fro sample with 20%, 35% and 50% of UF