Wood panels produced with sawdust and expanded polystyrene

Abstract

This work aims to propose a new particleboard, using wood sediments (particles) and plastics (adhesives). By experimental methods, the following plastics were evaluated: PET (poliethylene terephthalate), PELD (polyethylene of low density), and EPS (expanded polystyrene). As material proposed, EPS obtained the best results; panels were modeled with several proportions of Sawdust/ EPS, dissolved in gasoline and in gasoline and water, as follows: 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 60/40 and 50/50. The panel that presented the best results was the one constituted of 50% EPS and 50% sawdust, dissolved in 2000 ml of gasoline with addition of 250 ml of water. By the results of physical characterization it can be concluded that those panels are compatible with the patterns demanded by Brazilian Codes and, due to the low values of swelling, suitable for outdoor use. By the results of mechanical characterization, these panels presented good performance in relation to internal connection, indicating EPS use as adhesive; however, results of static bending and parallel tension to the faces were low, probably because the properties of the adhesive used on the final product.