Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva 72, s. 197 - 207 GDK 862.2 : 176.1 Fagus sylvatica L. + 812.71 Prispelo / Received: 12.11.2003 Izvirni znanstveni članek Sprejeto / Accepted: 24.11.2003 Original scientific paper INFLUENCE OF BEECH PARTICLE SIZE USED IN SURFACE LAYER ON BENDING STRENGTH OF THREE-LAYER PARTICLEBOARD Sergej MEDVED*, Jože RESNIK* Abstract It is well known that wood species and particle size used influence the bending strength of the three-layer particleboard. The purpose of this research was to determine how the size of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) particles influences the bending strength of the three-layer particleboard, where size of particles used was altered in surface layer only. Beech wood particles of five different sizes were used and blended with UF adhesive. The results show that the bending strength of boards increases with increasing particle specific surface area, increasing surface layer compaction ratio and surface layer density, while bending strength decreases with increasing surface covered with adhesive. Key words: particleboard, bending strength, beech particles, particle size, surface layer compaction ratio, surface covered with adhesive VPLIV VELIKOSTI BUKOVEGA IVERJA, UPORABLJENEGA V ZUNANJEM SLOJU NA UPOGIBNO TRDNOST TRISLOJNE IVERNE PLOŠČE Izvleček Znano je, da vrsta lesa in velikost iverja vplivata na upogibno trdnost trislojnih ivernih plošč. Namen posebej zasnovane raziskave je bil ugotoviti, kako velikost bukovega (Fagus Sylvatica L.) iverja vpliva na upogibno trdnost trislojnih ivernih plošč, če je velikost bukovega iverja spremenjena samo v zunanjem sloju. Uporabljeno je bilo bukovo iverje petih različnih velikosti. Iverje je bilo oblepljeno z UF lepilom. Rezultati meritev so pokazali, da upogibna trdnost ivernih plošč narašča z naraščanjem specifične površine iverja, faktorja zgostitve zunanjega sloja in prostorninske mase zunanjega sloja, medtem ko z naraščanjem oblepljenosti upogibna trdnost pada. Ključne besede: iverna plošča, upogibna trdnost, bukovo iverje, velikost iverja, faktor zgostitve zunanjega sloja, stopnja oblepljenosti * Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo, Rožna dolina, C. VIII/34, 1000 Ljubljana, SVN 198 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72 VSEBINA CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................199 UVOD 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................200 MATEIAL IN METODE 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................................202 REZULTATI IN RAZPRAVA 4 CONCLUSION .............................................................................205 ZAKLJUČKI 5 POVZETEK ..................................................................................206 6 REFERENCES .............................................................................206 LITERATURA 199 Medved S., Resnik J.: Vpliv velikosti bukovega iverja, uporabljenega v… 1 INTRODUCTION UVOD Important indicators of particleboard quality are their mechanical and physical properties. To attain optimum board properties, some conditions such as shape and size of particles, type of adhesive used, gluing factor, share of individual layer etc. have to be fulfilled. One of the most important properties of three–layer particleboard is certainly the bending strength. Since bending strength is influenced by the structure of surface layer, the most consideration should therefore be oriented into the structure of that layer; what means that such wood species and particle size should be chosen that contributes to achievement of higher bending strength. From the beginning of the particleboard production until today, many investigations have been conducted in which the impact of different wood species used on particleboard properties has been researched. In the early 1960s, BUSCHBECK et al. (1961a, 1961b) determined that lower properties are obtained when wood species with higher density, such as beech, are used. MOSLEMI (1974) also determined that bending strength is lower when beech or oak particles are used, which is, according to MOSLEMI, the effect of lower compaction of species with higher density. KOLLMANN et al. (1975) reported that the most important factors influencing the properties of particleboards are wood species used and particle size. They determined that beech particles diminish the particleboard’s properties, especially its bending strength and modulus of elasticity. The impact of particle size on mechanical properties have also been investigated by LIIRI et al. (1977), NIEMZ AND BAUER (1991) and NIEMZ et al. (1992). They determined that the best bending strengths are achieved when longer and thicker particles are used. Beside wood species used and particle size, ADCOCK IN IRLE, 2002; IRLE, 2000; JOSSIFOV, 1989; XU IN SUCHSLAND, 1998 determined that the compaction ratio, compression ratio 200 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72 and density are also important factors that influence the bending strength. They determined that with the increasing density and increasing compaction ratio the bending strength increases as well. The above-mentioned authors also noticed that compression ratio exceeding 1.3 could lead to cell wall damage. The presented research is focused on determination of how beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) particles of different sizes influence bending strength of the three–layer particleboard, when experimental board structure is altered in surface layer only. 2 MATERIALS AND METHODS MATEIAL IN METODE From fresh beech logs with moisture content between 60 and 70 %, particles were produced in laboratory chipper. Particles were then dried to moisture content approximately 10 % and by means of sieving separated into five different size classes that are characteristic of surface layer (Table 1). Table 1: Particle size class, dimensions and specific surface area of beech particles Preglednica 1: Velikostni razredi, dimenzije in specifična površina bukovega iverja Thickness Width Length Particle specific surface area Particle size class mm mm mm m2/100 g A 0.171 0.176 0.703 4.570 B 0.290 0.303 1.590 2.600 C 0.605 0.625 2.464 1.399 D 0.619 0.640 3.170 1.408 E 0.967 1.005 3.542 0.891 After separation of particles into size classes, the amount of 258 g of the UF adhesive was added to 980 g of particles for surface layer, while 255 g of UF adhesive was added to 1480 g of particles for core layer. Properties of adhesive used are presented in table 2. 201 Medved S., Resnik J.: Vpliv velikosti bukovega iverja, uporabljenega v… Table 2: Properties of UF adhesive used Preglednica 2: Lastnost uporabljenega UF lepila Density 1,280 g/cm3 Solid content 66% pH value 8,15 Gel time 60 sec. Viscosity 486 mPas The board structure was altered in surface layer only, while the structure of core layer was equal for all experimental boards. Four boards for each particle size class of 500×500 mm were produced. Mat was pressed at temperature 180° C and specific pressure 3 N/mm2 to nominal thickness of 16 mm. Boards were then cooled and stored at temperature 20±2° C and relative humidity 65±5 %. Bending strength was determined in accordance to SIST EN 310. To determine the compaction ratio influence on bending strength of the three-layer particleboard, the surface layer density and surface layer compaction ratio were determined. Vertical density distribution data were compared both for surface layer density and surface layer compaction ratio. Vertical density distribution was determined by means of gamma rays (MEDVED, 2000). Surface layer compaction ratio (CRSL) was calculated by the following equation: CRSL = ρSL2 / ρSL1 ... (1) where: - ρSL2 means surface layer density after pressing and - ρSL1 surface layer mat density before pressing. 202 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72 3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION REZULTATI IN RAZPRAVA According to KOLLMANN et al., 1975; MALONEY, 1977; MOSLEMI, 1974 it can be predicted that particle size depends on fraction size, and that bending strength depends on size of particles used. These finding were also confirmed by presented research (Figure 1). 13,57 12,39 11,77 10,96 10,05 0,00 2,00 4,00 6,00 8,00 10,00 12,00 14,00 16,00 A B C D E Particle size class B en di ng s tr en gt h in N /m m 2 Figure 1: Bending strength with regard to the beech particle size class Slika 1: Upogibna trdnost glede na velikostni razred bukovega iverja Despite the determined correlation between particle size and bending strength it is hard to affirm that particle size is the most important factor that influences the bending strength. Particle size also influences surface covered with adhesive (MEDVED AND RESNIK, 2004), surface layer compaction ratio and surface layer density. The mutual effect of the mentioned factors is especially evident when bending strength of boards from particles class "C" and "D" is compared. Particles class "C" and "D" have almost identical thickness and specific surface area, while bending strength of particleboards from those two particle sizes are different. In boards from particles of class "C", higher surface layer compaction ratio and surface layer density were determined than in those from particles of class "D". Influence of particles size on bending strength should therefore be explained with surface layer compaction ratio (Figure 2), surface layer density (Figure 3) and surface covered with adhesive (Figure 4). 203 Medved S., Resnik J.: Vpliv velikosti bukovega iverja, uporabljenega v… A B C D E R2 = 0,9769 8,00 9,00 10,00 11,00 12,00 13,00 14,00 3,00 3,20 3,40 3,60 3,80 4,00 4,20 4,40 4,60 Surface layer compaction ratio B en di ng s tr en gt h in N /m m 2 Figure 2: Correlation between surface layer compaction ratio and bending strength with regard to the beech particle size class Slika 2: Odvisnost upogibne trdnosti od faktorja zgostitve zunanjega sloja glede na velikostni razred bukovega iverja A C B D E R2 = 0,6973 8,00 9,00 10,00 11,00 12,00 13,00 14,00 740 760 780 800 820 840 860 Surface layer density in g/cm3 B en di ng s tr en gt h in N /m m 2 Figure 3: Correlation between surface layer density and bending strength with regard to the particle size class Slika 3: Odvisnost upogibne trdnosti od prostorninske mase zunanjega sloja glede na velikostni razred bukovega iverja 204 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72 It can be determined that bending strength increases with increasing compaction ratio. Better contact between particles is achieved at higher compaction, as there is less free space between particles, which could diminish the strength of particleboard. Correlation between density, compaction ratio and bending strength were also determined by KOLLMANN et al. (1974), MOSLEMI (1974a), MALONEY (1977) and NIEMZ (1993). As mentioned before, surface covered with adhesive also has an impact on bending strength (Figure 4) E D C B A R2 = 0,9785 8,00 9,00 10,00 11,00 12,00 13,00 14,00 20,00 30,00 40,00 50,00 60,00 70,00 80,00 90,00 Surface covered with adhesive in % B en di ng s tr en gt h in N /m m 2 Figure 4: Correlation between surface covered with adhesive and bending strength with regard to the particle size class Slika 4: Odvisnost upogibne trdnosti od stopnje oblepljenosti iverja glede na velikostni razred bukovega iverja With increasing surface covered with adhesive, bending strength decreases. Despite the smallest surface covered with adhesive determined in particles of class A, the greatest bending strength was determined when thinner particles were used. The greatest bending strength is the result of higher surface layer density and optimal cohesion–adhesion forces. Higher density of layer means that there are less free spaces and that more bonding sites between particles that transmit forces to other particles are created. Due to higher density of surface layer when particles of class "A" are used (almost 0,850 g/cm3) and higher compaction ratio it can be assumed that particles are optimally bonded together. 205 Medved S., Resnik J.: Vpliv velikosti bukovega iverja, uporabljenega v… When particles of class "B" were used, approximately the same surface layer density was determined (between 0,75 in 0,78 g/cm3). The results shows that with increasing size of used beech particles, the surface covered with adhesive increases, while bending strength decreases. It can be assumed that the bending strength decrease is the outcome of decreased cohesion strength of the bond. The surface covered with adhesive is in particles of class "E" approximately 80 %, which could lead to a lesser bond and therefore lower cohesion strength of the adhesive bond between particles. Due to approximately the same surface layer it can be assumed that bending strength is more correlated to the adhesive penetration and to the amount of adhesive on particle surface, i.e. to the cohesion– adhesion strength of bond between adhesive and particles. Bending strength depends on the size of particles, compaction ratio, density and surface covered with adhesive. When particles of equal size are used and the depth of penetration is the same, the bending strength is more dependent on the surface layer density. As determined, the bending strength increases with the increasing surface layer density. When the boards are of approximately the same surface layer density and the same particle size, the bending strength is more dependent on the surface covered with adhesive and adhesive/particle connection. 4 CONCLUSION ZAKLJUČKI It was determined that the bending strength of three layer particleboards, where beech particles of different sizes were used in surface layer only, depends on size of particles used, on surface layer compaction ratio, on density of surface layer as well as on surface covered with adhesive. As determined by this research, the bending strength of three layer particleboard increases with increasing surface layer density and surface layer compaction ratio, and that bending strength decreases with increasing surface covered with adhesive. The properties of three-layer particleboard, especially the bending strength, depend on the contact between particles and the connection between adhesive and particles. 206 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72 5 POVZETEK Namen predstavljenega prispevka je predstaviti, kako iverje bukve (Fagus sylvatica L.) različnih velikosti vpliva na upogibno trdnost trislojnih ivernih plošč. Velikost bukovega iverja smo spreminjali samo v zunanjem sloju, medtem ko je preostala zgradba iverja v srednjem sloju nespremenjena. Za izdelavo plošč smo uporabili urea–formaldehidno lepilo. Iverje smo izdelali iz sveže bukove hlodovine v laboratorijskih razmerah. Za izdelavo plošč smo uporabili iverje petih različnih velikosti. Debelina uporabljenih iveri je bila med 0,17 in 0,97 mm. Tako kot iveri so bile tudi plošče izdelane v laboratorijskih razmerah. Upogibno trdnost plošč smo ugotavljali v skladu s standardom SIST EN 310. Ugotovili smo, da je upogibna trdnost plošč odvisna tako od velikosti uporabljenega iverja kot od faktorja zgostitve zunanjega sloja, prostorninske mase zunanjega sloja in stopnje oblepljenosti iverja. Glede na rezultate lahko ugotovimo, da upogibna trdnost narašča z naraščanjem faktorja zgostitve in prostorninske mase zunanjega sloja, kar je predvsem posledica večanja kontakta med ivermi. Ugotovili smo tudi, da z naraščanjem stopnje obljepljenosti iverja upogibna trdnost trislojnih ivernih plošč pada, kar je predvsem posledica slabše povezanosti lepilo/iver. 6 REFERENCES LITERATURA ADCOCK T., IRLE M. 2002. The effect of compaction ratio on the dimensional recovery of wood particles pressed perpendicular to the grain. (osebni vir) BUSCHBECK L., KEHR E., JENSEN U. 1961a. Untersuchungen über die Eignung verschiedener Holzarten und Sortimente zur Herstellung von Spanplatten – 1. Mitteilung: Rotbuche und Kiefer. Holztechnologie, 2, 2: 99–110 BUSCHBECK L., KEHR E., JENSEN U. 1961b. Untersuchungen über die Eignung verschiedener Holzarten und Sortimente zur Herstellung von Spanplatten – 2. Mitteilung: Kiefernreiserholz. Holztechnologie, 2, 3: 195–201 207 Medved S., Resnik J.: Vpliv velikosti bukovega iverja, uporabljenega v… JOSSIFOV N. 1989. Wechselbeziehungen zwischen der Dichte und wesentlichen physikalisch–mechanischen Eigenschaften industriell hergestellter mehrschichtiger Spanplatten aus Hartlaubholz. Holztechnologie, 30, 4: 200–202 IRLE M. 2000. An investigation of the influence of wood density on the reological behaviour and dimensional stability of hot–pressed particles. 12 str. (neobjavljeno) KOLLMANN F., KUENZI W. E., STAMM J. A. 1975. Principles of Wood Science and Technology – Volume II: Wood Based Materials. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo, Springer–Verlag: 312–550 LIIRI O., KIVISTÖ A., SAARINEN A. 1977. Der Einfluß von Holzarten, Spangröße und Bindemittel auf Festighkeit und die Quellung von Spanplatten mit höheren elastomechanischen Eigenschaften. Holzforschung und Holzwervertung, 29, 6: 117–122 MEDVED S. 2000. Vpliv zgradbe zunanjega sloja na sorpcijo in trdnost iverne plošče. Les, 52, 1/2: 5-13. MEDVED S., RESNIK J. 2004, Influence of particle size on the surface covered with adhesive at particles from beech wood (in press – Drevarsky Vyskum) MOSLEMI A. A. 1974a. Particleboard: Volume 2: Materials. Amsterdam, London, Southern Illinois University Press: 244 str. MOSLEMI A. A. 1974b. Particleboard: Volume 2: Technology. Amsterdam, London, Southern Illinois University Press: 245 str. NIEMZ P., BAUER S. 1991. Beziehungen zwischen Struktur und Eigenschaften von Spanplatten.– Teil 2: Schubmodul, Scherfestigkeit, Biegefestigkeit, Korrelation der Eigenschaften untereinander. Holzforschung und Holzverwertung, 43, 3: 68–70 NIEMZ P., BAUER S., FUCHS I. 1992. Beziehungen zwischen Struktur und Eigenschaften von Spanplatten– Teil 3: Zerspanungsverhalten. Holzforschung und Holzverwertung, 44, 1: 12–14 XU W., SUCHSLAND O. 1998. Variability of particleboard properties from single– and mixed–species processes. Forest Products Journal, 48, 9: 68 – 74 SIST EN 310. Wood–based panels – Determination of modulus of elasticity in bending and of bending strength. 1993: 8 str. 208 Zbornik gozdarstva in lesarstva, 72