Influence of face-to-core layer ratio and core layer resin content on the properties of density-decreased particleboards

As a response to increased costs and a shortage in wood supply it is a current approach to reduce the amount of material in the manufacturing process of particleboard (PB). However, the production of lightweight PB by simply reducing density results in decreased panel properties. Thus, investigations to re-engineer the panel's core layer are required in order to achieve density-reduced panels which meet minimum property requirements (e.g., EN 312), edge processability and surface coatability. The intention of the present paper is to investigate the influence of potentially occurring changes in the face-to-core layer ratio (35/65aEuro broken vertical bar 57/43) and core layer resin content (8 %aEuro broken vertical bar 22.3 %) on panel properties when reducing the density from 650 to 400 kg/m(3).