Hybridized Biocomposites from Agro-Wastes: Mechanical, Physical and Thermal Characterization

Agricultural wastes, oil palm trunk (OPT) veneer and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) mat were used for the preparation of hybridized plywood using 250 and 450 g/m(2) of urea formaldehyde (UF) as gluing agent. The mechanical (flexural strength, flexural modulus, screw withdrawal, shear strength), physical (density, water absorption, thickness swelling and delamination) and thermal (TGA) properties of the biocomposites were studied. Images taken with a scanning electron micrograph (SEM) indicated an improvement in the fiber-matrix bonding for the laminated panel glued with 450 g/m(2) of UF.