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Increased demand for wood affects its price and thus contributes to the growing interest in raw materials that can be used as a partial or total substitute for wood in the production of particleboard. One of the raw materials for the production of particleboard can be Cannabis sativa or, more precisely, hemp shives. In this work, 7 variants of panels with a density of 650 kg/m3 with 10 and 25% hemp shives substitution in different layers were produced. Particleboards containing hemp shives were characterized by lower density compared to conventional particleboards. The shares of hemp shives at the levels of 10% and 25% have a slight impact on the MOR and MOE; additional IB showed no statistically significant differences between the conventional particleboards and particleboards with a share of hemp shives. For particleboards with 25% hemp shives, a reduction in swelling was observed relative to particleboards made entirely of industrial wood particles.

An attempt to use „Tetra Pak” waste material in particleboard technology. The study investigates the effect of addition Tetra Pak waste material in the core layer on physical and mechanical properties of chipboard. Three-layer chipboards with a thickness of 16 mm and a density of 650 kg / m3 were manufactured. The share of Tetra Pak waste material in the boards was varied: 0%, 5%, 10% and 25%. The density profile was measured to determine the impact of Tetra Pak share on the density distribution. In addition, the manufactured boards were tested for strength (MOR, MOE, IB), thickness swelling and water absorption after immersion in water for 2 and 24 hours. The tests revealed that Tetra Pak share does not affect significantly the value of static bending strength and modulus of elasticity of the chipboard, but it significantly decreases IB. Also, it has been found that Tetra Pak insignificantly decreases the value of swelling and water absorption of the chipboards.

Screw holding performance in WPC composites. In this research effort, the impact of fillers’ composition on wood-plastic composites (WPC) made of poly (lactic acid) PLA was tested. The composites varied in filler type (bark, sawdust) and its content in the boards (40, 50, 60%). The composites were manufactured in a two-stage process consisting of extrusion and flat pressing. Analogically prepared HDPE boards were a reference. Composites were tested for density, density profile, and screw-holding ability. Boards based on PLA performed better screw-holding ability than HDPE. The greatest influence was exerted by the share of matrix/filler. An increase in the content of lignocellulosic particles from 40 to 60% (regardless of the type of matrix: PLA or HDPE) generally reduced screw-holding ability. The type of filler (sawdust, bark) was almost 3 times more important in the case of HDPE boards compared to PLA boards.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of storing methods of woodchips from two species, pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and alder (Alnus Mill.), on the basic chemical composition and sugar yield in liquid biofuel production. Two methods of storing woody biomass were used in the study—an open pile and a cover pile. The wood was felled at the end of November and was stored as industrial chips for eight months from December onward. After this time, material was collected for chemical composition analyses and enzymatic hydrolysis. The results of the chemical composition analysis of the wood for both studied species showed the influence of the type of storage on the composition of the individual structural components of the wood. Based on the results of the enzymatic hydrolysis of the woody biomass, it can be seen that, irrespective of the hydrolysed material (wood, cellulose, holocellulose), the material from the biomass stored in the open pile gave higher results. The hydrolysis efficiency also increased with time, independent of the type of material that was hydrolysed. The highest sugar yield from the enzymatic hydrolysis of wood was obtained for alder wood stored in an open pile. The highest sugar yield from the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose was obtained for cellulose extracted from alder wood—as well—that had been stored in an open pile.

The study aimed to determine the suitability of agricultural lignocellulosic biomass in the form of vine pruning waste for particleboard production. Two variants of particleboards with densities of 650 kg/m3 and 550 kg/m3 containing a varied amount of vine pruning waste (0, 25, 50 and 100%) were evaluated. The strength (MOR, MOE and IB), thickness swelling and water absorption after immersion in water for 2 and 24 h were tested. The results revealed that vine pruning waste affected the board thickening and reduced strength properties. Boards with a 50% share of waste met the minimum requirements of strength properties specified in the EN 312 standard for boards with a density of 650 kg/m3. However, boards with a density of 550 kg/m3 entirely made with vine pruning waste met the minimum requirements of strength properties of the EN 16368 standard. Moreover, the pruned material reduced axial forces during drilling, swelling and water absorption.

In this study, wood plastic composites (WPC) made of poly(lactic acid) PLA and a bark-filler were manufactured. Two degrees of bark comminution (10–35 mesh and over 35 mesh) and varied content of bark (40, 50 and 60%) were investigated. The studied panels were compared with analogically manufactured HDPE boards. The manufacture of composites involved two stages: at first, WPC granules with the appropriate formulation were produced using the extruder (temperatures in individual extruder sections were 170–180 °C) and crushing using a hammer mill after cooling the extruded composite; secondly, the obtained granulate was used to produce boards with nominal dimensions of 300 × 300 × 2.5 mm3 by flat pressing in a mold, using a single daylight press at a temperature 200 °C. The study proved that comminuted bark can be applied as a filler in PLA composites. However, an increase in bark content decreased mechanical properties (MOR, MOE) and deteriorated humidity resistance (high TS and WA) of the panels. Along with the increase in bark content, an increase in the contact angle of the composite surfaces and a decrease in the total surface energy were noted. It was also found that PLA composites have higher strength parameters and lower moisture resistance compared to HDPE composites with the same bark content.Graphical abstract

This study investigated the possibility of applying flat-pressed wood-polymer composites in conditions of high humidity. The experiment involved three variants of wood-polymer composite panels 16 mm thick, and 680 kg per m3 density. The wood particles were bonded with polyethylene. The share of polyethylene in the core layer was fixed at 50%, while in the face layers the content was varied (40%, 50%, or 60%). The following parameters were examined: modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond (IB), screw holding (SH), thickness swelling (TS), water absorption (WA), susceptibility to drilling and milling, wettability and surface free energy, and resistance to mold. The results were compared to particleboard glued with urea-formaldehyde resin. The wood-polymer composite had lower MOR and MOE values and similar IB and SH values. The panels indicated a remarkably higher water resistance (lower TS and WA values) with good surface wettability and high resistance to mold fungi. Additionally, the composites were easier to machine, e.g. drilling or milling, in comparison to standard particleboards.

The depletion of natural resources and increased demand for wood and wood-based materials have directed researchers and the industry towards alternative raw materials for composite manufacturing, such as agricultural waste and wood residues as substitutes of traditional wood. The potential of reusing walnut (

Due to the content of lignocellulosic particles, wood plastic composites (WPC) composites can be attacked by both domestic and mold fungi. Household fungi reduce the mechanical properties of composites, while mold fungi reduce the aesthetics of products by changing their color and surface decomposition of the wood substance. As part of this study, the impact of lignocellulosic fillers in the form of sawdust and bark in poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based biocomposites on their susceptibility to mold growth was determined. The evaluation of the samples fouled with mold fungi was performed by computer analysis of the image. For comparison, tests were carried out on analogous high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites. Three levels of composites’ filling were used with two degrees of comminution of lignocellulosic fillers and the addition of bonding aids to selected variants. The composites were produced in two stages employing extrusion and flat pressing. The research revealed that PLA composites were characterized by a higher fouling rate by Aspergillus niger Tiegh fungi compared to HDPE composites. In the case of HDPE composites. The type of filler (bark, sawdust) affected this process much more in the case of HDPE composites than for PLA composites. In addition, the use of filler with smaller particles enhanced the fouling process.

The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of sugar beet pulp (SBP) in particleboard production as a substitute for wood material. Two variants of board density, 650 kg/m3 and 550 kg/m3, containing 0%, 25% and 50% of SPB, were evaluated. During the study the following features were measured: modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA). The results showed that boards containing up to 25% of SBP meet standards for boards for general-purpose used in dry conditions. Further increases in SBP content deteriorated some of the investigated properties of the boards.

The possibility of using composite elements of flooring pine veneers with knotholes for the production of supporting layers has been determined. This assessment was made on the basis of the Brinell hardness measurement of the face layer of five-layer composites with empty spots in their structure imitating knotholes of various diameters (10, 20 and 50 mm). The dependencies obtained from empirical determinations were supported by numerical analysis. It was found that it is possible to use veneers with defects (empty spots) with a diameter of up to 20 mm to produce composites of three and more layers of wood (counting from the face layer). The anatomical section of the exposed wood on the face (radial cross-section, tangential section) of the layered composite does not affect the obtained hardness values., Ispitivanjem je potvrđena mogućnost uporabe furnira od borova drva s rupama od kvrga kao srednjeg sloja u proizvodnji višeslojnih podnih obloga. Ta je procjena napravljena na temelju mjerenja tvrdoće prema Brinellu gaznog sloja peteroslojne podne obloge s rupama različitih promjera (10, 20 i 50 mm) unutar strukture obloge koje simuliraju rupe od kvrga. Ovisnosti dobivene iz empirijskih rezultata potkrijepljene su računskom analizom. Utvrđeno je da je za proizvodnju podnih obloga od tri i više slojeva (brojeći od gaznog sloja) moguće upotrijebiti furnire s greškama (s neispunjenim rupama) promjera do 20 mm. Anatomski presjek izloženog drva na licu višeslojne podne obloge (radijalni i tangentni presjek) ne utječe na vrijednosti tvrdoće.

Influence of apple wood waste from the annual care cut on the mechanical properties of particleboards. As part of the work, the influence of the share of apple wood waste from the annual care cut on the mechanical properties of 3-layer particle boards was examined. Particleboards were prepared using two variants of the specific maximum pressing pressure of 1.5 MPa and 2.5 MPa and mass share of particles from apple wood waste at the level of 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%. The results of the tests show a decrease in the value of the modulus of rapture and modulus of elasticity with the increase of the share of the additive in particleboard. In spite of the decrease of the value of the modulus of rapture and modulus of elasticity, all produced particleboards with the application of specific pressing pressure at the level of 2.5 MPa, met the requirements for P2 type particle board included in the PN 312: 2011 standard.

Wood–plastic composites (WPCs) increase the range of applications of materials by creating new material solutions. As part of this research, PLA (polylactic acid)- and HDPE (high-density polyethylene)-based composites were manufactured. Softwood sawdust or conifer bark with different sizes (large and small) were used as filler. In selected cases, the addition of 3% additives, such as calcium oxide in the case of PLA or polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride in the case of HDPE, were tested. The manufactured composites were examined for their density profile and their susceptibility to drilling, defined by the value of the axial force occurring during drilling. The obtained results revealed that the type of matrix had the greatest influence on the axial forces during drilling. Regardless of the composite formulation, composites based on PLA had 25% to 56% higher axial forces during drilling than those based on HDPE. Furthermore, increasing the proportion of lignocellulosic fillers resulted in a decrease in the value of axial forces during drilling, with PLA composites experiencing a greater decrease than HDPE composites. The type and size of the filler had a minor impact on the axial force values during drilling. The statistical analysis indicated that the additives had a greater influence on HDPE than on PLA.

The depletion of natural resources and increased demand for wood and wood-based materials have directed researchers and the industry towards alternative raw materials for composite manufacturing, such as agricultural waste and wood residues as substitutes of traditional wood. The potential of reusing walnut (Juglans regia L.) wood residues as an alternative raw material in particleboard manufacturing is investigated in this work. Three-layer particleboard was manufactured in the laboratory with a thickness of 16 mm, target density of 650 kg∙m−3 and three different levels (0%, 25% and 50%) of walnut wood particles, bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. The physical properties (thickness swelling after 24 h) and mechanical properties (bending strength, modulus of elasticity and internal bond strength) were evaluated in accordance with the European standards. The effect of UF resin content and nominal applied pressure on the properties of the particleboard was also investigated. Markedly, the laboratory panels, manufactured with 50% walnut wood residues, exhibited flexural properties and internal bond strength, fulfilling the European standard requirements to particleboards used in load-bearing applications. However, none of the boards met the technical standard requirements for thickness swelling (24 h). Conclusively, walnut wood residues as a waste or by-product of the wood-processing industry can be efficiently utilized in the production of particleboard in terms of enhancing its mechanical properties.

Influence of the filler on the density profile of wood polymer composites. WPC panels with HDPE matrix composites made in two stages were tested: 1 - obtaining WPC granulate using the extrusion method, 2 - production of panels by flat pressing in the form. As a filler, sawdust was used with two degrees of fineness (about 10 - 35 mesh and below 35 mesh) and three levels of content (40, 50 and 60%). In total, 6 panel variants were created for which the density and density profile in the cross-section were determined. It was found that panels with a filler content of 40% are characterized by a uniform flat density profile. The increase in filler content (up to 50 - 60%) affects the density reduction in the core zone of the panel. The density and density profile of panels from WPC composites does not depend on the size of the filler particles.

1,3-dimethyl-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DDHEU) and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) were used as the binders in 3-mm high density fiberboard (HDF) manufacturing. The studies focus ...

International audience; In this study, carbon fibers were added as a reinforcement layer between wood veneers bonded with melamine-urea–formaldehyde (MUF) resin to improve properties of standard wood laminated composite. Two different fiber orientations were tested, being parallel and perpendicular to the veneers. In addition, two different locations were evaluated. Internal, surrounding the core veneer, and external, below the surface veneer. Flexural properties, water absorption, density, cutting force, and tensile shear strength were tested and evaluated. Results showed that reinforcing plywood panels with carbon fibers increased both MOR and MOE. The cutting force showed better results for composite panels with CF in a perpendicular orientation. Moreover, the water uptake and thickness swelling after 24 h showed better results for fibers in the core layer, either parallel or perpendicular.

The objective of this work was to evaluate selected physical and mechanical properties of experimental particleboards manufactured from pine and spruce with charcoal particles in their core layer. For all the manufactured boards the average density was 750 kg m-3, while the mass share of charcoal in the core layer was changed (0%, 10% and 50%). The manufactured panels were tested with respect to their mechanical and physical properties, including formaldehyde emission. The results indicated that the share of charcoal significantly influenced mechanical properties, swelling, and water relations of the boards. In addition, a test on formaldehyde emission from panels were carried out, which revealed that the charcoal share has a considerable impact on the amount of formaldehyde released by the manufactured boards. The 50% content of charcoal caused about 80% reduction of formaldehyde emission.

Two types of commercial 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) resins were used for the first time as the binders in 3-ply plywood manufacturing. The studies were aimed at the assessment of the applicability of DMDHEU as substitute for widely used urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins. Applied press platen temperature was 120°C, 140°C, and 160°C and pressing time was 300 s. The results indicate that the DMDHEU can be used as a binder for plywood. The mechanical properties: tensile shear strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were determined – i.e., > 1.0, 75–90, and 11100–18000 MPa, respectively. It was found that platen temperature 120°C was sufficient for the proper cure of the binder and to obtain dry shear strength that met the requirements of EN 310 standard. Formaldehyde release was 2.8 ± 0.6 mg∙m–2∙h–1 which complied with standards for interior grade plywood.