Liquefaction of wood using ultrasound and production of particleboards using adhesive mixtures with added liquefied wood

Wood can be liquefied and used for the synthesis of different polymer materials as well as for the adhesives. The aim of our research was to evaluate the utilization of liquefied wood as a part of an adhesive mixture in particleboard production and to assess physical and mechanical properties of produced particleboards. We determined gelation time for different adhesive mixtures depending on the liquefied wood portion, the type and the amount of the catalyst and temperature. For particleboard production, we used melamine-formaldehyde resin with added liquefied wood and ammonium formate as a catalyst. We examined the influence of liquefied wood portion, the type and the amount of the catalyst and pressing temperature on the particleboard properties. Results showed that gelation time increased with higher liquefied wood portion and decreased as the amount of catalyst and temperature increased. The optimal properties of particleboards were obtained at 30 % portion of liquefied wood, at 3 % amount of the catalyst and at pressing temperature of 180°C