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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Effects of mat moisture content and press closing speed on the formation of density profile and properties of particleboard

Journal of Wood Science volume 44, pages 287–295 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Isocyanate resin-bonded 0.5 and 0.7 g/cm3 lauan (Shorea sp.) particleboards were produced from mats with uniform and distributed moisture content (MC) distributions, using three hot press closing speeds. The effects of these processing variables on the formation of density profile in particleboard and board properties were analyzed statistically. A definition of the density profile was introduced, and the correlations among the various defining factors were established. The results are summarized as follows. (1) The peak density (PD) of particleboard could be increased, with a slight reduction in the core density (CD), using mats with different MC distributions. (2) In a conventional density profile, CD and PD are highly dependent on the board mean density (MD); and the gradient factor (GF), peak distance from the faces (Pdi), and peak base (Pb) are significantly correlated to each other, at the 99% significance level. (3) Greater press closing speed reduces Pdi and Pb, with an increase in GF. (4) Greater press closing speed could increase the PD in board of low MD, with minimal effect on CD. (5) The modulus of elasticity (MOE) of particleboards from mats with high MC near the faces were consistently higher than those from mats with uniform MC, irrespective of the press closing speed, whereas their modulus of rupture (MOR) became indifferent at higher MD under slow and fast closing speeds. (6) Sanding does not improve the MOR and MOE of particleboard significantly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wood Research Institute, Kyoto University, 611-0011, Uji, Japan

    Ee Ding Wong, Min Zhang & Shuichi Kawai

  2. Hokushin Co. Ltd., 596-0011, Kishiwada, Japan

    Qian Wang

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  1. Ee Ding Wong
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  2. Min Zhang
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  3. Qian Wang
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  4. Shuichi Kawai
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Correspondence to Ee Ding Wong.

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Wong, E.D., Zhang, M., Wang, Q. et al. Effects of mat moisture content and press closing speed on the formation of density profile and properties of particleboard. J Wood Sci 44, 287–295 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00581309

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00581309

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