As far as I know, particleboard was originally a product designed to consume waste from wood processing industry. For various reasons this concept was basically abandoned and although the waste from sawmills is nowadays part of the resource for particleboard production, it is not representing the majority of a raw material. My question is: What issues should be addressed to make alternative materials (plants residues, pruning, bio-waste) more „attractive” to the European particleboard industry.
The results already shown that: (1) Some alternative materials may be available in similar volume and in some cases even at higher yield than wood. (2) Generally alternative materials can be significantly cheaper than wooden chips. (3) Some particleboards from alternative materials may have aside of economical, also additional benefits (termite resistance, lower swelling), however, generally particleboards made from alternative materials did show lower mechanical properties compared to those made from wood. Are the mechanical properties problem when for instance (5) some particleboards from plant stalks or pruning have potential to be used as they comply the requirements of EN312.
What is your opinion and experience?
Dear Petr
Good questions!!
Lot of non-wood materials have higher amount of parenchyma cells instead of fiber cells!
Maybe the disadvantages of such alternative materials from non-wood source can be transferred to advantages in mixed wood and non-wood materials due to their higher potential of designing and engineering our wished new material, for example due to higher degree of non-lignified or non-extract-masked hydroxyl groups, which can be bond with special treatment solution, or higher amount of oxalates or silicates in grasses or grain residues, which can help against termites or teredo!
This means: depending on our requirements, we can 'calculate' and 'steer' the composition and the properties of our wished materials!
This is from the market point of view what I often discuss with colleagues: Don't focus in statements on the disadvantages of (new materials), talk about the chances of this to open the new market and to attract potential customers!
Maybe my remarks were not really scientific and material orientated, but to design required native materials and to widen the raw-material resources seem to be very important in a world of limited materials and need for sustainable processes.
best regards,
Peter Rademacher, University of West Hungary,Sopron
A comprehensive disscussion on using non-wood sources for paper and board production is available in the below mentioned research. Best wishes.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315427845_Agricultural_Residues_Wastes_for_Manufacture_of_Paper_Board_and_Miscellaneous_Products_Background_Overview_and_Future_Prospects?_sg=3xcP2-HPPJ1eb2_t2Uw6mF6C-4M2xMbM_CcT_trFXXZxmGKkFkm1OT9iPvAO2gkoughcdaAIVO7mQwyZn-u88qA0lMpEXByNtoPgFaoM.dmqjskGLo5E6-yGTf2zFA6-sNhe7aLK60RegMQcrkvGofjRigwikOKgT5-O6ptgJ-ILj-r92zF3tANqAGp305w
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