The Effect of Resin Gradient and Press Time on The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particleboard Produced from Citrus Tree Wood

The purpose of this reseach was to examine the influence of resin consumption gradient and press time on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard produced from citrus tree residues. Four resin consumption gradients; 0, 2, 4 and 6% difference between surface and core layers (10-10%, 11-9%, 12-8% and 13-7%) and two press times of 4 and 5 minutes were applied and totally 24 laboratory boards were produced. The mechanical and physical properties of boards were measured and the results were analyzed using ANOVA method. The results showed that applying the resin consumption gradient of 2%, the MOR of the boards was improved. However, MOE of the boards increased as the resin consumption gradient increased and the maximum was observed at 6% resin gradient. The results indicated that at resin consumption gradient of 2%, higher IB was reached which was significantly different compared to other resin gradients, but at higher resin consumption gradients lower IB was measured. The thickness swelling of the boards showed irreversible behavior to IB of the boards and as the resim consumption raised to 2%, lower thickness swelling was observed which was significantly different with other resin consumption gradients and further improvement was not observed at higher resin gradients.