UTILIZATION OF OLIVE MILL SLUDGE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIBERBOARD

The objective of this research was to investigate the utilization of olive mill sludge (OMS) as an alternative to wood in the manufacture of the medium density fiberboard (MDF). The MDF panels were manufactured using standardized procedures that simulated industrial production at the laboratory. Six panel types were made from various mixtures of hardwood fiber/dried OMS flour, 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 (by weight) percents, respectively. With increasing OMS flour content, the flexural properties of the panels, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, decreased by 31.0% and 29.2% as compared to panels without OMS flour, respectively. However, the water resistance was improved by the addition of the OMS flour up to 20 wt % content. For example, the thickness swelling and water absorption values of the panels containing 20% OMS flour were 17.3% and 59.5%, while they were found for the panels without OMS flour as 21.5% and 75.6%, respectively. The findings obtained in the study showed that the OMS was capable of serving as lignocellulosic raw material in the manufacture of the MDF

UTILIZATION OF OLIVE MILL SLUDGE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FIBERBOARD

The objective of this research was to investigate the utilization of olive mill sludge (OMS) as an alternative to wood in the manufacture of the medium density fiberboard (MDF). The MDF panels were manufactured using standardized procedures that simulated industrial production at the laboratory. Six panel types were made from various mixtures of hardwood fiber/dried OMS flour, 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50 (by weight) percents, respectively. With increasing OMS flour content, the flexural properties of the panels, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, decreased by 31.0% and 29.2% as compared to panels without OMS flour, respectively. However, the water resistance was improved by the addition of the OMS flour up to 20 wt % content. For example, the thickness swelling and water absorption values of the panels containing 20% OMS flour were 17.3% and 59.5%, while they were found for the panels without OMS flour as 21.5% and 75.6%, respectively. The findings obtained in the study showed that the OMS was capable of serving as lignocellulosic raw material in the manufacture of the MDF

Enhancement of Dimensional Stability of Biocomposites Containing Agricultural Waste by Heat-Treatment Method

The objective of this research was to enhance the dimensional stability of biocomposites containing agricultural waste using a heat-treatment method. For this aim, cotton stalk (CS) flour was treated at 150 or 180 degrees C for 30 or 60 min in atmospheric air. The ratio of softwood fiber to heat-treated (CS) flour in the biocomposites (medium-density fiberboards, MDF) with a density of 700 kg/m(3) was 75/25%. The MDF panels were made using standardized procedures that simulated industrial production at the laboratory. Heat treatment of the CS flour significantly enhanced the water resistance of the MDF panels such as thickness swelling and water absorption. An increase to 60 min of heat treatment at 150 or 180 degrees C resulted in a further reduction of the swelling properties compared to the standard treatment (30 min). However, the mechanical properties such as modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and internal bond strength declined as the temperature and time increased. This study revealed that the dimensional stability of the MDF panels incorporated with heat-treated CS flour was better than that of the panels incorporated with untreated CS flour

Surface Characteristics of Particleboard Produced from Hydro-thermally Treated Wheat Stalks

Surface characteristics were studied for particleboards produced from hydro-thermally treated (HTT) and non-treated (NT) wheat stalk (WS). Wood and wheat stalk particles were used as experimental materials. The wheat stalk particles were subjected to HTT at a temperature of 180 degrees C for 8 minutes in a steam explosion machine. HTT and NT WS particles were added at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% to the wood particles. The surface roughness and wettability of the produced panels were determined. The roughness measurements, average roughness (R-a), maximum roughness (R-max), and mean peak-to-valley height (R-z) were performed using a fine stylus tracing technique. The wetting behavior of the panels was characterized by the contact angle method (goniometer technique). The contact angle (CA) measurements were obtained by using a KSV Cam-101 Scientific Instrument connected with a digital camera and computer system. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in the surface roughness and wettability of the particleboards following hydro-thermal modification. The addition of WS to the panels significantly decreased the roughness values. However, all of the HTT groups exhibited higher roughness compared to NT groups. The CA values decreased when the WS content increased. The wettability of the particleboard containing HTT WS particles was improved.Duzce University Research FundDuzce University [2017.02.03.550]This work was supported by Duzce University Research Fund (Project Number: 2017.02.03.550).WOS:00058380290002

Surface Characteristics and Hardness of Medium Density Fiberboard Containing Pine Cone

Surface characteristics, wettability and surface roughness, and surface hardness of medium density fiberboards containing cone flour of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) at various ratios (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50%) based on the oven-dry weight of wood fiber were evaluated. Contact angle measurements were obtained by using a goniometer connected with a digital camera and computer system. Roughness measurements were taken from the sanded specimens along and across the sandmarks using a fine stylus tracing technique. The results revealed that the surface quality of the panels and surface hardness reduced with the increasing cone flour content. The samples made from 100% wood fiber had the lowest contact angle value with 88.8 degrees and average roughness (R(a)) with 5.2 mu m while the highest contact angle and surface roughness were found for the samples containing 50% cone flour having value of 114.4 degrees and 9.6 mu m, respectively. Although panel type A made from 100% wood fibers had the best roughness and wettability, panel type B containing 50% cone flour had similar values to panel type A. This study revealed that value-added MDF panels containing 10% the cone flour can be used to manufacture laminated flooring and overlaid panels for the furniture industry

Non-destructive evaluation of beech and oak wood bent at different radii

The aim of this study was to investigate the parallel and perpendicular velocity and transmission time of beech and oak wood bent at different radii. Two trees from each wood species, having straight trunks of approximately 40 cm in diameter, were selected, and two 4-m logs were cut from each tree. The prepared samples, except those from the control groups, were steamed, bent and set. The samples were bent at three different radii (300 mm, 200 mm and 100 mm) in the tangential direction. The density, parallel and perpendicular (radial and tangential) velocity and transmission times of the beech and oak wood were determined. The results of this study showed that the bent samples of beech and oak wood had higher density compared to the unbent groups. The density of both wood species increased with the decreasing bending radius. The highest velocity parallel to the fibers was measured on the convex surface, while the lowest was measured on the concave surface. The parallel and perpendicular velocity decreased as the bending radius decreased. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Utilization of olive mill sludge in manufacture of lignocellulosic/polypropylene composite

This study evaluated some physical and mechanical properties of injection-moulded polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with various mixtures of the wood flour (WF) and the olive mill sludge (OMS). Water resistance of the composites improved by the increasing OMS flour content. However, the flexural properties of the composites decreased with increasing OMS flour content. The addition of a coupling agent improved the compatibility between the lignocellulosic material and PP through esterification and thus reduced the water absorption and improved the stability and mechanical properties. The findings obtained in the study showed that the OMS was capable of serving as new reinforcing filler in the manufacturing of thermoplastic polymer composites

Utilization of waste tire rubber in manufacture of oriented strandboard

Some physical and mechanical properties of oriented strandboards (OSBs) containing waste tire rubber at various addition levels based on the oven-dry strand weight, using the same method as that used in the manufacture of OSB. Two resin types, phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and polyisocyanate, were used in the experiments. The manufacturing parameters were: a specific gravity of 0.65 and waste tire rubber content (10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 by wt.% of waste tire rubber/wood strand). Average internal bond values of PF-bonded OSB panels with rubber chips were between 17.6% and 48.5% lower than the average of the control samples while polyisocyanate bonded OSBs were 16.5-50.6%. However, water resistance and mechanical properties of OSBs made using polyisocyanate resin were found to comply with general-purpose OSB minimum property requirements of EN 300 Type 1 (1997) values for use in dry conditions at the lowest tire rubber loading level (10%) based on the oven-dry panel weight. The tire rubber improved water resistance of the OSB panel due to its almost hydrophobic property. Based on the findings obtained from this Study, we concluded that waste tire rubber could be used for general-purpose OSB manufacturing up to 10% ratio based on the oven-dry panel weight. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved