PRODUCTION OF PARTICLEBOARD FROM AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES USING CASSAVA STARCH AS AN ADHESIVE

ABSTRACT

In this work, Corn Cobs and Sugarcane Bagasse were used to produce particle board using different adhesive (cassava starch and urea formaldehyde). Corn Cob (CC) and Sugarcane Bagasse (SB) are among the various agricultural residue known to be source environmental pollution in many town and cities in Nigeria. The corn cob and sugarcane bagasse were washed, oven-dried, blended and sieved to obtain a particle size of 1mm. Equal mass of corn cob and sugarcane bagasse were mixed, with 1kg of cassava starch and 1kg of water was added gradually, and the mixture was mixed thoroughly until a homogeneous mixture was obtained. The mixture was turned into the mould and pressed using hydraulic jack. Corn cob alone (CC100 : SB0 and Sugarcane bagasse alone (CC0 : SB100) were also used with cassava starch adhesive. The boards were tested for physical and mechanical properties in accordance with the American Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM, D 1037). The physical properties tested include: Density of the boards, which ranged from 0.51g/cm3 to 0.60g/cm3 , Water Absorption which ranged from 38.60cm3 to 59.42cm3 and Thickness Swelling which ranged from 4.50cm3 to 12.10cm3 . The Mechanical tests include: Modulus of Rupture which ranged from 4.83N/mm2 to 13.47N/mm² and the Modulus of Elasticity which ranged from 78.39/mm² to 447.53N/mm². According to standards, it was discovered that particleboards produced with 100% sugarcane bagasse having a density of 0.60g/cm3 and a MOR of 13.47N/mm² was suitable for structural purposes and other boards were inadequate but could be used for indoor purposes.