Utilization of Forest Waste for the Production of Particleboards

Pine needles of Pinus roxburghii, a major waste material from conifer forests, were used as the reinforcing material along with Phenol-Formaldehyde (PF) resin, as the matrix, for the manufacture of particleboard composites. Lignocellulosic fibers from pine needles were separated by the alkaline treatment. PF resins of different mole ratios were prepared and characterized with respect to pH, curing time, water tolerance, flow time and solid contents. Particleboards of 10 mm and 5mm thickness from pine cellulosic fibers and PF resin were prepared as a function of different compositions of the phenolic resins prepared with different formaldehyde to phenol mole ratios.