Effect of ozone pretreatment on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard panels made from bagasse

The main objective of this study was to investigate the applied properties of particleboard panels made from bagasse, which were either treated or not treated with gaseous ozone (O3). Variable parameters were ozone exposure time (1-3 min) at 9 ppm and storage period (1-5 months). Other parameters such as resin content (12 wt%), hardener content (1 wt%), type of hardener (NH4Cl), press closing time (5 mm/s), board density (0.70 g/cm3), and press pressure (30 kg/m2) were held constant. The experimental panels were tested for their mechanical properties including modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR); and internal bonding strength (IBS) and physical properties in terms of water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) according to the procedures defined by EN standards. Overall results showed that all panels made from treated bagasse exceeded the EN standards for MOE, MOR, and IBS. However, WA and TS values decreased after ozone pretreatment compared to the un-treated (control) panels. Application of Duncan's Multiple Range Test for the mean values of the results showed that the effects of both variables, except their interactions, on the mechanical and physical properties were highly significant (p ⩽ 0.01%). All the mechanical properties of the panels decreased when the treatment duration increased from 1 to 5 months.