Effect of Hot Pressing Temperature and Varying Veneer Density on the Properties of Oil Palm Sandwich Board

Abstract

Abundance of oil palm trunks (OPT) can be obtained from the replanting activities that can be converted into value-added products. One of the sectors that can beneficial from this is bio-composite. Low-density sandwich board (SB) consisting of a core-board (CB) overlaid with an oil palm veneer face was produced and studied in this paper. Effect of different hot-pressing temperatures on the production of CB and layering the face and back with varying veneer density on the properties of the SB were investigated. Results showed that the use of a hot-pressing temperature of 160 οC is optimum for the production of CB. The thickness swelling (TS) and internal bond (IB) values meets the minimum standard requirement when the temperature used is at 160 οC. The CB layered with oil palm veneers (density of more than 300 kg m-3) tended to improve the product quality of SB. Results show that modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), and IB increased by 17%, 10%, and 14% respectively. While TS was reduced about 11 %, this is due to the use of high-density veneer (300-400 kg/m3) at the top and bottom of the CB surfaces which will prevent the absorption of water. In conclusion, the SB can be manufactured from OPT using the optimum parameters such as 12% resin content, board density 700 kgm-3, particle size of more than 2 mm, hot-pressing temperature of 160 οC and high-density veneer that is more than 300 kgm-3.