Mechanical characterization of industrial particleboard panels glued with cornstarch-mimosa tannin-urea formaldehyde resins

The aim of this work was to validate the utility and performance of optimal laboratory cornstarch-mimosa tannin-based resins in the industrial particleboard production. In this way, the cornstarch and mimosa tannin was introduced in the classic adhesive formulation in order to supply a part of urea-formaldehyde (UF). Our results show that industrial particleboard panels (8.2mx1.85mx19mm) bonded with optimal cornstarch-mimosa tannin-UF (10:4:86; mass ratio) resins exhibited comparable mechanical properties to those of boards bonded with commercial UF resins and largely satisfied the exigencies of European norms EN 312. The formaldehyde emission levels obtained from panels bonded with cornstarch-mimosa tannin-UF were lower to those obtained from panels bonded with control UF. Finally, the addition of cornstarch and mimosa tannin improves markedly the water resistance of UF resins.