Utilization of Waste Tire Rubber in the Manufacturing of Particleboard

Abstract

Utilization of waste tire rubber in the manufacture of particleboard was investigated, using the same method as that used in the wood-based panel industry. 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 particle). Two resin types, melamine/urea formaldehyde (MUF) and polyisocyanate, were used in the experiments. Average modulus of rupture values of MUF bonded particleboards with rubber crumbs were between 13-58% lower than the average of the control samples while polyisocyanate bonded particleboards were 12-51%. Water resistance of the boards improved with the increase in rubber crumb/wood particle ratio. Thickness swelling values of the MUF bonded particleboards decreased from 14-53% while polyisocyanate bonded particleboards were 9-48% as compared to control samples.