Considering the high production of fossil-based waste, such as expanded polystyrene, this study aimed at producing medium-density particle boards (MDP) of Ochroma pyramidale (balsa) with the incorporation of expanded polystyrene (EPS) granules. For this, balsa wood particles, EPS granules (0%, 1%, 3%, and 5%), and urea-formaldehyde resin were used in the formulation. The physical and mechanical properties of the panels were tested according to the Brazilian standard. The addition of EPS provided improvement in the thickness swelling and internal bond properties. The results showed a strong potential to produce particle boards with 5% EPS, leading to a 39% reduction in thickness swelling compared to the control. These panels met the standard's requirements for most properties, except for the modulus of elasticity (MOE), being classified as type P2 panels (non-structural for use in indoor environments).
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3.
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4.
BarbiratoGHALopesJRWEMartinsRH, et al.OSB Sandwich trapezoidal core panel with balsa wood waste. Waste Biomass Valorization2022; 13: 2183–2194.
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BarbiratoGHALopesJRWEHellmeisterV, et al.OSB Panels with balsa wood waste and castor polyurethane resin. Waste Biomass Valorization2020; 11: 743–751.
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HellmeisterVBarbiratoGHALopesJRWE, et al.Evaluation of balsa wood (Ochroma pyramidale) waste and OSB panels with castor oil polyurethane resin. Int Wood Prod J2021; 12: 267–276.
7.
LopesJRWEBarbiratoGHAPavesiM, et al.Assessment of the optimal content of organic resins for the production of OSB panels from waste balsa wood (Ochroma pyramidale). Sci For2021; 49: 1–11.
8.
LimaPSSantosMFSde SousaAASR, et al.Incorporation of expanded polystyrene (EPS) in concrete: perspective of developing a sustainable solution. Facema2018; 4: 1260–1264.
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RodriguesFRCazellaPHDSSouzaMVD, et al.Produção de painéis de partículas de Madeira com inclusão de poliestireno. Ciênc Florest2023; 33: 1–22.
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ShalbafanAJafarnezhadSLuedtkeJ. Evaluation of low-density hybrid panels using expandable granules: effect of granule diameter and content. Eur J Wood Wood Prod2018; 76: 1505–1514.
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LyutyyPBekhtaPOrtynskaG. Lightweight flat pressed wood plastic composites: possibility of manufacture and properties. Drv Ind2018; 69: 55–62.
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15.
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). NBR 7353: Aqueous solutions – Determination of pH with glass electrodes. Rio de Janeiro, 2019.
16.
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). NBR 8103: Casting resins – Determination of solids content test method. Rio de Janeiro, 2016.
17.
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). NBR 9393: Fusion adhesives – Determination of viscosity – Brookfield viscometer method. Rio de Janeiro, 2021.
18.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). D 2471-99: Standard test method for gel time and peak exothermic temperature of reacting thermosetting resins. West Conshohocken, 1999.
19.
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). NBR 14810-2: Medium-density wood panels. Part 2: requirements and testing methods. Rio de Janeiro, 2018.
20.
R Core Team. A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing, 2023. Available at: https://www.R-project.org/.
21.
BekhtaPKozakRSedliačikJ, et al.Selected properties of veneered lightweight particleboards with expanded polystyrene. Mater2022; 15: 64–74.
22.
LuoSGaoLGuoW. Effect of expanded polystyrene content and pressure temperature on the properties of low-density wood particleboard. Maderas Cienc Tecnol2020; 22: 549–558.
23.
JafarnezhadSShalbafanALuedtkeJ. Effect of surface layers compressibility and face-to-core-layer ratio on the properties of lightweight hybrid panels. Int Wood Prod J2018; 9: 164–170.
24.
ShalbafanATackmannOWellingJ. Using expandable fillers to produce low-density particleboard. Eur J Wood Wood Prod2016; 74: 15–22.
25.
Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT). NBR 14810-2: Medium-density wood panels. Rio de Janeiro, 2013.
