Production of Low-density Particle Board Reinforced with Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

For the past century, water hyacinth has been a nuisance and considered as "natural waste" due to its rapid propagation in tropical continents (Intermediate Technology Development Group, n.d.). Therefore, its utilization is much needed. Fortunately, water hyacinth contains high cellulose content, one of the most readily available biomass in existence and can be used as a reinforcement for composite products like particleboard. Hence, this research focuses on the use of cellulose from water hyacinth as reinforcement for particle composite boards.

METHODS

Water hyacinth was gathered. They were dried under sunlight for 3 days then cut into fine pieces. Three formulations were prepared, with 0%, 10%, and 20% water hyacinth, respectively. According to the corresponding amount per set up, sawdust, water hyacinth, and urea formaldehyde were hand-mixed in a basin. Then, they were molded and subjected under hot press machine for production with accurate density. They were cured for three days before testing. The tests done were water absorption, thickness swelling, screw holding, and moisture content.

RESULTS

For the conducted water absorption test, set up C held the least amount of water, with 210.8831% water absorption. Thickness swelling was the opposite, in which set-up A swelled the least after being submerged for 24 hrs. Compared to the other two, the setup with the greatest amount of water hyacinth yielded to better particle board in terms of hygroscopicity but swells more when subjected to water. Water hyacinth easily swells to water because it has high fiber surface area (Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory, 2007). As for the screw holding, setup A yield the best results, reaching up to 33.8% pullout load. The same is the result for the moisture content, wherein setup C held the most moisture. The increase in moisture content may also be attributed to the ability of water hyacinth to hold water.

DISCUSSIONS

These results may be attributed to the addition of water hyacinth. The volume that water hyacinth occupies and its water-proof skin can have helped the blocking of water. Nevertheless, the particle board passes the furniture grade of wood of 12% moisture content. This means that the particle board is not prone to decay by fungi, this is because fungi need liquid water to grow and wood with moisture content lower than 28%, water will not be available to support decay. (DeWitt, 2002).