Particleboard made from waste paper treated with maleic anhydride

This study evaluates the usage of waste newspaper as a supplement raw material for laboratory-made single-layer particleboards. The boards were made of various ratios (75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100) of waste paper flakes to wood particles mixtures (wt/wt). The effects of press temperature and maleic anhydride on the properties of the boards were determined. Evaluated properties were modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bonding strength, and thickness swelling. Panels made from waste newspaper satisfied the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and internal bonding strength requirements of European Norms standards. Performing a statistical analysis of the results, press temperature and maleic anhydride content were found to be positively effective on the mechanical properties at a 95% confidence level. The results from this study indicated that technically waste paper could be a potential substitute material for particleboard manufacture.