Properties of agro-based hybrid particleboards

The development of particleboard from near-zero landfill of agro-wastes material can play a vital role in economic growth of any country. The use of agro-wastes materials serves as a substitute for the conventional wood-based particleboard and provides an alternative material in the development of a low-cost particleboard. Agro-wastes such as rice husks (RH), eggshell (ES), cassava peel (CP) and palm kernel shell (PKS) are abundant within the South-West Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria and are currently underutilized. In this study, the viability of these materials was investigated for the production of particleboard. The planetary ball mill was used to process ES, CP, and PKS to a size range of 150-250 μm while urea formaldehyde was used as a binder. Parameters such as resin content (25 %), hardener content (20 %), pressing time (10 min), press pressure (40 kg/m²) and press temperature (175 ^oC) were held constant. The hybrid composites board developed was evaluated by physical properties determination (water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS). Also, the mechanical properties such as modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were obtained for each batch of composites developed. From the result, composites designated D (100 % RH) had WA value of 12 % after 2 h of immersion and 85.91 % after 24 h. An optimum density value of 1081.43 kg/m³ was observed in B while D has the least density value of 830.14 kg/m³. Thus, composite designated B has a potential for indoor application, especially as furniture component.