Addition of Different Proportions of Castor Husk and Pine Wood in Particleboards

The aim of this research was to evaluate the potential of using castor husk as raw material for particleboard production un/mixed with pine wood considering anatomical, physical and chemical characteristics. The particleboards were produced with five different levels of castor husk content (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 %) in association to pinewood. The adhesive urea formaldehyde and paraffin content were applied at 8 and 1 %, respectively. The particleboards were pressed under a pressure of 3.92 MPa and 160 A degrees C of temperature for 8 min. Properties of castor husks particleboards such as density, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, water absorption (2 and 24 h) and thickness swelling (2 and 24 h) were investigated. There were no statistical differences between the densities of the particleboards. The castor husk particleboards produced with 75 and 100 % had lower mechanical strength. In general, the addition of castor husk particles in particleboards improved their physical properties; although the thickness swelling for all samples met the requirements stipulated by EN 312 standard. Overall, mechanical strength of particleboards decreased with higher castor husk content. Castor husk may be added up to 50 % to pine wood in order to produce particleboards suitable for internal applications. The study concluded that it is feasible to produce particleboards with castor husk in combination to pinewood for production of particleboards.