Properties of elephant grass made particleboards: Influence of a hardener

The objective of the study was to assess the performance of one of the most abundant raw materials on Earth – the Elephant grass, for the production of particleboard bonded using cassava starch blended with Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) as hardener. The physical, mechanical and decay properties of the manufactured particleboards were analyzed and compared with EN 312-2 (2005) and ANSI A208.1 (1999) standards for particleboards. The characterization also included thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron micrographs. The results showed that the interaction of the Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) hardener and the adhesives in the particleboard significantly affected the physical, mechanical, thermogravimetric and the decay properties of the manufactured particleboards. The particleboards with only Cassava starch as adhesive recorded 11.14% and 24.84% for 24-hour water absorption and thickness swelling respectively. However, with the blending of the adhesive with Al2(SO4)3, Cassava starch recorded 20.51% better for 24-hour WA and 35.62% better for 24-hour TS. Urea formaldehyde as an adhesive blended with the hardener also recorded better performance in the 24-hour dimensional stability property assessment. Similar trends of enhanced property performance were observed for the intended properties tested when Al2(SO4)3 is added to each adhesive. Static bending, hardness, internal bond strength, dimensional stability, thermogravimetric and decay resistance properties of the test particleboard improved with the addition of Al2(SO4)3.