2. Introduction Many reasons, such as environmental, health and economic implications of residues or waste from agricultural and wood processing outfits have necessitated the need for their use for the production of value added products.
3. Particle board is an engineered wood product. It is actually environmentally friendly, as it is manufactured from wood particles, such as woodchips, sawmill shavings, or even saw dust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed Sand extruded. Particleboard is a composite material. It is cheaper, denser and more uniform than conventional wood and plywood and is substituted for them when appearance and strength are less important than cost. Though it is denser than conventional wood, it is the lightest and weakest type of fiberboard, except for insulation board.
4. Bagasse is the fibrous residue remaining after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice. Bagasse has been a waste by-product of the sugarcane production process. It has been used as a fuel source for sugar mills, a fiber for paper production, and as an annually renewable resource in the production of sustainable materials and packaging. On the other hand, sawdust is produced from cutting of woods using a saw, and is also considered a residue.
5. The Problem How can we make a particle board made up of recycled materials that is environmentally friendly and durable?
6. Objectives • To be able to make a particle board which is environmentally friendly • To be able to make a particle board which is mostly composed of residue • To be able to test the said particle board’s push pin penetrability. • To be able to test the said particle board’s water absorption. • To be able to make a table on the said tests.
7. Significance of the Project In the current situation of the world these days, pollution is one of the problems we are facing. Many scrap materials are scatted and dumped around while our nature is being destroyed: trees are cut, rare animals lose their habitat and natural calamities occur more than usual. This project that we are doing is part of our own campaign in saving mother earth where we use those scrap materials to make a particle board as a substitute to plywood, fiber board, and many more.
8. Our particle board would be more durable and affordable compared to synthetic woods. This particle board can be used to make different products such as bird houses, filer and containers. This would lessen flooding and landslides due to loosing trees in our forests and mountains. This would also help in animal habitat because we would not cut trees to makes this thus may animals will have their natural habitat.
9. Review of Related Lit. Particle board can be a cost-efficient and flexible material for many woodworking projects. Particle board is a kind of fiberboard that is made from chips of wood and sawdust compressed with a resin. It can be cheaper than plywood or hardwood, and since particle board is made from recycled wood, it can be an environmentally friendly choice.
10. Particle Board Projects Particle Board can be used for Indoor furniture Sub flooring projects Siding in construction projects
11. Particle board is cheaper and more dense than hardwood, but is not very strong or resistant to moisture. It also does not take paint (let alone stain) well. To combat these deficiencies, most particle boards are covered with veneers glued onto the exterior surfaces made to look like the desired hardwood. To the untrained eye, a piece of furniture made from veneered particle board looks like a fine hardwood piece.
12. Materials Resin Adhesive Containers Molders 30g sawdust 30g dry pounded sugarcane bagasse 150 mL of water
13. Procedure First, cut the sugarcane bagasse into small strips and pound it. After pounding, leave it under the sun to be dried for 2 hours. Four treatments are then prepared. The first treatment will be prepared through measuring the amount first with 3:1 as the ratio of the amount of sawdust (15g) to sugarcane bagasse (5g). Then 50 mL water and Resin adhesive is added.
14. The second treatment is prepared by measuring the amount with 1:3 as the ratio of the amount of sawdust (5g) to sugarcane bagasse (15g). Also, 50 mL water and Resin adhesive is added. The third treatment is prepared by combining 10 grams of sawdust, 10 grams of pounded sugarcane bagasse, Resin adhesive, and 50 mL water.
15. The mixtures will be compressed in the molders by glass and will be left to dry under the sun for 3 – 4 days. The molders will be removed after drying.
16. Push Pin Penetrability Test To test the nail penetration of the products, 10 push pins will be used. Attach each push pin and consecutively let fall into the particle boards. Three trials will be made. The distance between the surface of the boards and the sharp pointed part of the push pin is kept constant. The depth of each push pin penetrated will be recorded.
17. Water Absorption Test This will be conducted through submerging the treatments in a half filled water basin for 1 hour. Record the change in weights. Water resistances will also be recorded by weighing the treatments before and after soaking in the water.
