Measurement of wood and bark particles acidity and their impact on the curing of urea formaldehyde resin during the hot pressing of mixed panels

摘要

In the manufacture of panels, pH value is an important property to measure, especially when a pH-dependent resin like urea-formaldehyde (UF) is used. It has been proven that UF cures very well and faster in an acidic environment. In this study the acidity (pH value and buffering capacity) of both outer and inner white birch bark particles as well as that of wood particles or fibres used together with those barks as reinforcement for the manufacture of three layers particleboards was measured. The results show a significant difference between the acidity of white birch bark and wood. Barks have a lower pH as well as higher acid and alkaline buffering capacities. It was also found that the pH value of inner white birch bark is lower than that of the outer part. The significant differences observed enabled to realize that inner bark should be separated from outer bark and used separately in mixed panels manufacture. The platen temperature should be reduced when the outer bark is used in the surface of mixed panels to avoid pre-cure or over-cure. This study confirms the linear relationship between the pH and the absolute and relative buffering capacities.