Decay Resistance of Particleboards Manufactured with Four Agro-Forest Residues Using Cassava Starch and Urea Formaldehyde as Adhesives

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Date
2020-11-04
Authors
Mensah, Prosper
Mitchua, J Stephen
Apetorgbor, Mary Mamle
Frimpong-Mensah, K
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Publisher
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment
Abstract
Many factors including depletion of the forest, environmental awareness, and generation of large quantities of agro-forest residues have increased the need to partially or wholly replace wood with agro-forest residue for particleboard production. This study assessed the decay resistance of particleboards pro duced from four agro-forest residues using cassava starch and urea formal dehyde as adhesives. Musa paradisiaca pseudostem, Theobroma cacao stem and pod, and sawdust of Ceiba pentandra were used for the study. Properties determined were: Weight loss, decay resistance rating and decay susceptibility index. These properties were evaluated after 12 weeks of exposure to Cori olopsis polyzona in accordance with ASTM D 2017-05. The results indicate that the weight loss for Musa paradisiaca pseudostem particleboard was least for both urea formaldehyde and cassava starch adhesives. Even though almost all the particleboards produced were classified as resistant or highly resistant to fungi attack, those produced with urea formaldehyde had better decay re sistance properties than that of cassava starch. Furthermore, particleboards coated with synthetic polyvinyl lacquer had better resistance to fungi attack than the uncoated ones. At 5% level of significance, the agro-forest residue, adhesive and surface finish as well as their interactions had significant effects on decay resistance of the particleboards produced. It is recommended that further studies which aim at determining the effect of combination of the agro-forest residues and that of urea formaldehyde and cassava starch be conducted to determine their effects on decay properties of particleboards.
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Citation
Mensah, P., Mitchual, S. J., Apetorgbor, M. M., & Frimpong-Mensah, K. (2020). Decay Resistance of Particleboards Manufactured with Four Agro-Forest Residues Using Cassava Starch and Urea Formaldehyde as Adhesives. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 9(4), 240-254.