EFFECT OF PROPYLENE CARBONATE ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD FIBREBOARD COMPOSITE

摘要

The effect of propylene carbonate as an accelerator on the mechanical performance and dimensional stabilityrnof composites made from wood fi bre bonded with wood resin and urea formaldehyde resin was investigated.rnThe results demonstrated that the mechanical performance of the composite fi breboard cured at a relativelyrnlow temperature (e.g., 180 °C) could be markedly enhanced by addition of propylene carbonate. Compositesrncured at higher temperatures (e.g., 200 °C or 220 °C) and/or in presence of propylene carbonate, exceeded thernminimum physical properties specifi ed by ANSI-AHA. The addition of 3% propylene carbonate (by weight,rnbased on total fi bre and resin content) could optimise the physical properties of the composites. The tensilernstress parallel-to-the-surface and the fl exural strength and stiffness of the composites increased in presence ofrnpropylene carbonate.