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Veneer-reinforced particleboard for exterior structural composition board

Formally Refereed

Abstract

Two experiments were performed to determine the physical and mechanical characteristics of panels consisting of a veneer face and a particleboard core composed of mixed wood particles/powdered-recycled polyethylene (PE) bag waste (MWP) using urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin as a binder. The addition of 25 percent powdered-recycled PE bag waste to the MWP panels did not adversely affect nonaged bonding strength but did result in substantial improvement in internal bond (IB) retention after a 24-hour water soak and improved dimensional stability. Average MWP panel IB retention was more than 300 percent higher than the IB retention of wood particle (WP) panels and MWP thickness swell and linear expansion were 70 and 44 percent lower, respectively, than the values for WP panels. For the veneer overlay composite, the mean modulus of rupture (MOR) parallel to the surface grain veneer (MORjj) was lowest (3,668.2 pounds per square inch [psi]) for panels with two veneers cross-laminated on each face over a WP core. Conversely, MORjj was greatest (8,535.6 psi) for panels with single 1/8-inch veneers on each face over an MWP core. However, the large percentage of shear failure when stressed parallel to face veneer grain hindered an accurate determination of true MOR. As expected, all specimens tested in bending parallel to the surface grain of the veneers resulted in higher modulus of elasticity (MOE) than those tested perpendicular to the grain. For a single veneer overlay on each face, it is interesting to note that thinner veneers (i.e., 1/8 in.) resulted in higher MOE than thicker veneers (i.e., 3/16 in.).

Citation

Hse, Chung-Yun; Shupe, Todd F.; Pan, Hui; and Feng, Fu. 2012. Veneer-reinforced particleboard for exterior structural composition board. Forest Products Journal. 62(2):139-145.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/45889