Investigating the Potential of Aloe and Sisal Stem Fiber Blends for Particleboard Production

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Date

2019-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Utilization of forest wood raw materials for particle board production has resulted in deforestation, loss of habitat for millions of species, climate change and raw material competition. Therefore, the use of non woody ligno-cellulosic raw materials is a good choice for particle board production. In this study aloe and sisal stem fibers were used as a blend and mixed with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin for particle board production. First the aloe and sisal stems were collected form Adigrat and sun dried. The dried stems were then crushed into 3mm to 6mm in size. The particles were further reduced in size by grinding (0.5-2.5mm) and classified into different classes, i.e. very fine (250µm-475µm for both aloe and sisal fibers), fine (0.5-1.4 mm for aloe and 0.71-1.4mm for sisal fibers) and coarse (1.4-2.0 mm for aloe and 1.4-2.5 mm for sisal fibers), based on the requirement for production and analysis and stored on different containers until needed. The fibers were then analyzed for their moisture, ash, extractive, hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose content. FTIR analysis was also performed for identification of the functional groups present in the aloe and sisal stem fibers. After analysis of raw materials, three layered particleboards were produced using 22cm by 22 cm mould using coarse particles (60%) as core layers and fine particles (40%) as surface layers. Design expert 11 software was used for design of the experiments and statistical analysis of the results.17 different boards were produced by varying the aloe to sisal ratio (30-60%), resin loading rate (10-15%) and pressing pressure(150-200 bar) at pressing temperature of 155 C and press time of 14 minutes. The physical (moisture content, water absorption and thickness swelling) and mechanical (Modulus of rupture (MOR), Modulus of elasticity (MOE) and Internal bond (IB)) properties of the boards were investigated and compared with the Ethiopian standards for particle board. The results of the mechanical properties test showed that the particles boards have an average values of 11.267 MPa MOR,1686.34 MPa MOE and 0.417 MPa IB. The analysis of physical properties also showed that the particle boards have average values of 76.95% water absorption and 62% thickness swelling after 2 and 24hrs of immersion in water bath. The maximum results for MOR, MOE and IB were 12.42MPa, 1830.13MPa and 0.505Mpa, respectively. These values were observed at 45% of aloe to sisal ratio, 12.5% of resin loading and 175 bar pressing pressure. The minimum values for WA and TS were 47.15% and 61.9% ,respectively. These values were observed at 45% of aloe to sisal ratio, 15 % of resin loading and 200 bar pressing pressure. The final results of mechanical properties were compared with the Ethiopian standards for particle boards and they were found satisfactory for general purpose use.

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Keywords

Particle board, Ligno-cellulosic materials, Urea Formaldehyde resin, Mechanical properties, Physical Properties, Aloe fiber, Sisal Fiber

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