Use of Guadua angustifolia stems in the particleboard production

Abstract

The industry agglomerated panels incorporated into its manufacturing process tree species of both conifers and hardwoods, today, many companies operate at half of its production capacity for the continued lack of raw material due to depletion of main species or operational restriction. The main objective of this paper was to determine the technological feasibility of Guadua angustifolia as raw material for the production of particleboard at two levels of theoretical density (nominal) of 600 kg/m3 and 800 kg/m3 with urea formaldehyde resin content of 12%. The physical and mechanical properties of the boards were determined according to German Norms DIN 52361, 52362, 52364 and 52365, and Venezuelan Covenin Norm 847-91 for flat platen-pressed particleboard. The mechanical properties were static bending (MOR), and tension perpendicular to the board surface (internal adhesion); the physical properties were water absorption and thickness variation by water soaking absorption tests at 2 and 24 hours. The results of this study indicated that the boards manufactured with this species showed values in the physical and mechanical properties that comply with the ones specified by the norms. The presence of the stem external cuticle negatively influenced the water absorption and the tension perpendicular to the board surface of the boards with a density of 600 kg/m3.