Some properties of particleboards produced from Rhizophora spp. as a tissue-equivalent phantom material bonded with Eremurus spp.

• The Eremurus spp. root as a bio-adhesive in Rhizophora spp. particleboard.
• Higher internal bond with increasing adhesive percentage or decreasing particle size.
• Dimensional stability were affected by adhesive, wood and adhesive particle sizes.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of the particleboard manufactured from Rhizophora spp. in three particle sizes bonded with powdered Eremurus spp. root as a bio-based adhesive in two adhesive treatment levels. The samples acquired high internal bond strength values when the Rhizphora spp. particle size was reduced and the adhesive treatment level was increased. Dimensional stability normally increased with the reduced Rhizophora spp. wood particle size. The hydrophilic property of Eremurus spp. indicates that dimensional stability also increased with decreased adhesive treatment level. However, dimensional stability is affected by the adhesive treatment level when the wood particle size is smaller than that of the adhesive particle. The density distributions of the fabricated particleboards were evaluated using Surfer8 software, which showed significant homogeneity in all samples. The microstructures of the fabricated particleboards were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which refers to the better surrounding adhesive with bigger particles than Rhizophora spp. particles. This study indicates the potential of Eremurus spp. root as a bio-adhesive, which improved the characterization of Rhizophora spp. particleboard.