Particleboard from wood particles and sycamore leaves: Physico-mechanical properties

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of particleboards manufactured from mixture of sycamore leaves and wood particles. Five panel types were made from mixtures of wood particles/sycamore leave (100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40%, respectively). Some mechanical (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and internal bonding strength) and physical properties (thickness swelling and water absorption) of the particleboards were determined. The results show that with incorporation of sycamore leaves up to 20%, the mechanical and physical properties of resulting particleboards improves. Nevertheless, the mechanical properties of all the panels exceed the minimum requirements of EN Standards for furniture manufacturing. Using renewable bio materials like sycamore leaves for manufacturing particleboards could contribute solution of raw material shortage for particleboard industry, decreasing the pressure on forest resources and diminishing environmental problems regarding their burning.