Some properties of experimental particleboard manufactured from waste bamboo using modified recycled palm oil as adhesive

New advanced and high-performance particleboard was made from bamboo waste combined with bio-polyurethane adhesive based on recycled palm oil. The bio-polyol modified recycled palm oil (MRPO) was synthesized in a single step, by epoxidation and ring-opening reactions. The physical properties and chemical structure of MRPO polyol were studied and confirmed by FT-IR, respectively. The bio-polyurethane adhesive was then synthesized using MRPO polyol and polymeric diphenyl-methane diisocyanate (p-MDI). The gel time kinetics of the MRPO polyurethane adhesive was investigated. For the particleboard preparation, the bamboo surface fiber was treated with 5% KOH for producing particleboard. The morphology of the bamboo surface fiber after surface treatment was characterized by SEM and elemental chemistry of surface was analyzed by EDX. Increasing the adhesive content (15 to 60 %wt) and NCO index (100 to 180) increased the flexural strength, elastic modulus and water absorption resistance of the particleboard. In addition, the effect of coating on the surface of particleboard with MRPO polyurethane adhesive on mechanical properties and ultraviolet (UV) weathering resistance were studied. The coated particleboard showed higher surface gloss, less color changes, and delayed degradation from UV sunlight aging. Also, the mechanical properties and water absorption resistance of the particleboard were improved by MRPO polyurethane adhesive coating on the particleboard. The results demonstrated the benefits of using MRPO polyol in the form of a new polyurethane adhesive to produce particleboard from bamboo waste, supporting the concept of eco-friendly materials.