A Half-yearly Peer Reviewed Journal of Bangladesh Forest Research Institute
An experiment was conducted to find the suitability of 28 miscellaneous hardwood species in mixtures for the manufacture of particleboard. The species were grouped into five specific gravity classes in increasing order based on the specific gravity of individual species.
The average density of the boards of Specific Gravity Class I (667 kg/m3) made from low specific gravity species is less than that of the boards of Specific Gravity Class V (705 kg/m ) made from medium and high specific gravity species but the strength ofthe former (178 kg/cm2) was observed to be higher than the latter (107 kg/cm2). The average strength of the boards of Specific Gravity Class V does not satisfy the ‘standard’ for medium density boards. Species of high specific gravity may be used in the manufacture of medium density board by mixing the chips oflow specific gravity specjes. The thickness swelling (22-35 %) of the boards of all groups was observed much higher than the optimum. This may be reduced by increasing the amount of solid content of UF glue and adding water repellent in the chips during the manufacture of boards.