The effect of press temperature on properties of medium density fiberboard produced from Eucalyptus camaldulensis fibers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

The target of this study was to investigate the possibility of MDF production
from Eucalyptus camaldulensis wood. MDF fibers were produced applying three
levels of steaming time. Laboratory MDF boards were produced using the
generated fibers and different pressing temperature and time. Physical and
mechanical properties of MDF panels were measured using relevant EU test
methods and were statistically analyzed based on factorial experiment. The results
indicated that at longer steaming time, MOR of boards was reduced and the lowest
value (16.2 MPa.) were measured on boards produced from fibers generated
applying 15 min steaming time. The press temperature imposed statistically
significant effect on MOR, and increasing press temperature, increased MOR.
Higher steaming time reduced the IB of boards as well as the thickness swelling
and increasing steaming time from 7.5 to 15 min, decreased IB from 0.787 to 0.533
MPa. The results of this study indicated that, the MOR and MOE of boards
produced from Eucalyptus camaldulensis fibers meet the requirements of Iran
national standard values and the internal bonding and thickness swelling of
boards are higher than the requirements.

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