English Low-density particleboards from sisal waste

Abstract

Sisal (Agave sisalana) is a plant exploited in semi-arid regions of Brazil for fiber production, but the floral scape of sisal (peduncle) is collected and often burned, causing environmental problems, even through irregular disposal. To circumvent this scenario, the objective of this work was to produce reconstituted panels using the sisal arrow and castor-based polyurethane resin. The panels were obtained using 175 g of crushed sisal arrow core with dimensions smaller than 2 mm and adopting 10% castor-based polyurethane resin and The samples were pressed under tension of 2 MPa. The properties of reconstituted panel were evaluated through NBR 14810–1 (ABNT, 2013) and NBR 14810–2 (ABNT, 2018), the physical properties were investigated: moisture, density, thickness swelling and absorption; as well as mechanical properties: MOR, MOE, internal bond and parallel compression. The found results show that the panel is classified as low density (419.8 kg/m³), and with physical and mechanical properties similars to other panels of the same classification in the literature. For average values of MOR and MOE it was found 5.24 MPa and 147.49 MPa, respectively. For internal bonding it was found 0.14 MPa and for parallel compression properties it was found 1.14 MPa.