Technological properties of particleboards produced using mixture of pines and bamboo

This paper aimed to evaluate the technological properties of particleboards produced with particles of unconventional species, bamboo of the species Phyllostachys edulis, and of the genus traditionally used by the sector for the production of the particulate panels in Brazil, Pinus spp.The bamboo splints of 3 years old were collected in Frei Rogério, Santa Catarina, being transformed into particles in a mill hammer, while the particles of Pinus spp. were collected from the industrial process of MDP production in Bonet Madeiras e Papéis Ltda Company in Santa Cecília, Santa Catarina. The company used eight-year-old logs of P. taeda and P. elliottii from the thinning process, without distinction of the species. The experiment was composed of five compositions with mixing the bamboo and wood particles in different proportions ((T1)100:0%; (T2)75:25%; (T3)50:50%; (T4)25:75%; (T5)0:100%). The panels were produced nominal density of 700 kg / m³ and pressing cycle of 160ºC and 40 kgf/cm² for 8 minutes. Results reporting physical and mechanical properties of panels were evaluated through Analysis of Variance and Tukey´s Test at 95% probability. The results evidenced that bamboo particles presented potential for the production of particleboard. The most promising results were presented with the addition of 50% of bamboo in the panel composition (T3), mainly by means observed for dimensional stability, as for strength and stiffness. Values of internal bond presented significantly lower averages with the addition of more than 25% of bamboo.