The potential for using the needle litter of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) as a raw material for particleboard manufacturing

Particleboard panels were made from various wood particle/needle litter of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) mixtures bonded with urea formaldehyde resin. Litter was characterized by having higher solubility’s in alcohol–benzene, with diluting alkali and hot water, and resulted in lower pH values than those of wood particles. The mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and internal bond strength) of boards containing up to 6.25% litter were lower than those of panels made from wood particles. However, needle litter usage improved the physical property (thickness swelling) and decay resistance of the panels, significantly. Panels consist of 6.25% and 12.50% needle litter met the minimum EN standard requirements of mechanical properties for general-purposes. Particleboards contain more than 50% needle litter had the required level of thickness swelling for 24 h immersion.