The potential use of wood waste ash nanofiller for improvement of laminated veneer lumber production made from Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba)

The objective of this research was to improve the bonding properties of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and its strength made from Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) wood bonded using phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesive mixed with nanofiller made from wood waste ash as substitution material of industrial filler produced from wheat flour. Wood waste ash (WWA) produced from boiler installation of plywood mill was converted into nanoparticle using conventional ball milling for 144 h. WWA nanoparticle was characterized to analyze its particle size, morphology, chemical components and thermal properties. The WWA nanoparticle then added to PF adhesive as a nanofiller under various compositions based on weight: (A) PF 100% + hardener 8%; (B) PF 100% + hardener 8% + wheat flour filler 8%; (C) PF 100% + hardener 8% + WWA nanofiller 2.5% and (D) PF 100% + hardener 8% + WWA nanofiller 8%. These compositions of PF adhesive are then used to produce the LVL from Jabon wood and evaluated its bonding and mechanical properties. Compared to wheat flour filler, PF adhesive filled using nanofiller of 2.5% exhibited the improvement in LVL bonding and strength properties, and the increased values of horizontal shear strength on flat and edge direction were 94% and 107%, respectively. Additionally, the increased values of modulus of rupture (MOR) on flat and edge direction were 62% and 32%, respectively, and modulus of elasticity (MOE) on flat and edge direction was 39% and 16%, respectively.