Performance of eucalypt particleboard with the addition of farm waste.

Wood residues, as well as those from poultry farming, are generally disposed of irregularly, which causes damage to the environment, and thus poses a great challenge in terms of their use, a possible alternative is the manufacture of particleboards. For this, the following mechanical properties of the panels were evaluated: static bending (elasticity - MOE and rupture - MOR), internal bond strength (IB), Janka hardness (DJ), screw withdrawal resistance (SW), thickness swelling (TS), water absorption (WA), moisture, apparent density (DA) and density profile, in addition to morphological characterization by scanning electron microscope image. With the results obtained, it was possible to observe that the amount of residue influenced the density of the panel. The panel compaction ratio showed little variation (1.22-1.32), remaining close to the value considered ideal of 1.33. The percentage of waste added to the panels also influenced the increase in WA and TS, limiting the use of the panels to environments without humidity. The addition of the eggshell in the process negatively affected the mechanical characteristics of formulated particleboards, except for Janka hardness. The application of the resin together with the wood particles and eggshells can improve the mechanical properties. Based on the findings from this study, the medium-density particleboard produced can be used for making furniture and room partitioning without structural character.

Zinc loading in urea-formaldehyde nanocomposites increases nitrogen and zinc micronutrient fertilization efficiencies in poor sand substrate.

Agricultural output needs significant increases to feed the growing population. Fertilizers are essential for plant production systems, with nitrogen (N) being the most limiting nutrient for plant growth. It is commonly supplied to crops as urea. Still, due to volatilization, up to 50 % of the total N application is lost. Slow or controlled release fertilizers are being developed to reduce these losses. The co-application of zinc (Zn) as a micronutrient can increase N absorption. Thus, we hypothesize that the controlled delivery of both nutrients (N and Zn) in an integrated system can improve uptake efficiency. Here we demonstrate an optimized fertilizer nanocomposite based on urea:urea-formaldehyde matrix loaded with ZnSO4 or ZnO. This nanocomposite effectively stimulates maize development, with consequent adequate N uptake, in an extreme condition - a very nutrient-poor sand substrate. Our results indicate that the Zn co-application is beneficial for plant development. However, there were advantages for ZnO due to its high Zn content. We discuss that the dispersion favors the Zn delivery as the nanoparticulated oxide in the matrix. Concerning maize development, we found that root morphology is altered in the presence of the fertilizer nanocomposite. Increased root length and surface area may improve soil nutrient uptake, potentially accompanied by increased root exudation of essential compounds for N release from the composite structure.

Influence of synthesis parameters on properties and characteristics of poly (urea-formaldehyde) microcapsules for self-healing applications.

Poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PUF) microcapsules filled with dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) were prepared by in situ polymerisation and the effect of synthesis parameters, such as pH of the solution and agitation rate, on microcapsules size and shell thickness was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. Adjusted pH conditions (pH = 3.5) and agitation rate (1350 RPM) were found using a design of experiments (DOE). SEM results indicated that microcapsule size was directly affected by agitation rate, whereas shell thickness was mostly affected by pH. After obtaining adjusted synthesis conditions, microcapsules presenting mean size of 60 µm and mean shell thickness of 4 µm were embedded in an epoxy matrix for evaluating the self-healing effect. FTIR and SEM analyses in damaged samples suggested that a healing agent was delivered to the crack location.

Avaliação das propriedades de painéis aglomerados produzidos com resíduos de serrarias de nove espécies de madeiras tropicais da Amazônia / Evaluation of the properties of particleboard made from sawmill waste of nine tropical wood species of Amazon

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de painéis aglomerados produzidos com resíduos de processamento em serraria de nove espécies de madeiras tropicais da Amazônia. As espécies estudadas foram: Scleronema micranthum Ducke (Cardeiro), Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho), Scleronema sp. (Castanha-de-paca), Copaifera multijuga Hayne (Copaíba), Ocotea sp. (Louro), Ocotea guianensis Aubl (Louro-espinho), Caryocar villosum Pers. (Piquiarana), Couratari oblongifolia Ducke & R. Knuth (Tauari) e Virola surinamensis Rol. Warb (Virola). Foram produzidos painéis experimentais com densidade nominal de 0,75 g.cm-3, utilizando a resina uréia-formaldeído na proporção de 8 por cento de sólidos - base peso seco das partículas. Os painéis foram prensados com pressão específica de 4,0 MPa, temperatura de 160 ºC e tempo de prensagem de oito minutos. As avaliações dos resultados de ensaios obtidos nesta pesquisa indicam a viabilidade técnica de utilização das nove espécies provenientes de florestas tropicais da Amazônia na produção de painéis de madeira aglomerada, com destaque para Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho) que, de uma forma geral, apresentou melhores resultados de propriedades físico-mecânicas.

This research was developed to evaluate the quality of particleboards manufactured from sawmill waste of nine tropical wood species of Amazônia. The following species were studied: Scleronema micranthum Ducke (Cardeiro), Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho), Scleronema sp. (Castanha-de-paca), Copaifera multijuga Hayne (Copaíba), Ocotea sp. (Louro), Ocotea guianensis Aubl (Louro-espinho), Caryocar villosum Pers. (Piquiarana), Couratari oblongifolia (Tauari) e Virola surinamensis Rol. Warb (Virola). The experimental boards were manufactured with the nominal density of 0.75 g.cm-3, using the urea-formaldehyde resin in the proportion of 8 percent of solid content based on oven dried wood particles. The boards were pressed at the specific pressure of 40 kgf/cm², temperature of 160 ºC and press time of eight minutes. The evaluations of test results obtained in this study indicate the potential use of the nine species from Amazon rainforest in the production of particleboard, highlighting Ecclinusa guianensis (Caucho) that, in general, showed better results of physical and mechanical properties.

Avaliação das propriedades de painéis aglomerados produzidos com resíduos de serrarias de nove espécies de madeiras tropicais da Amazônia

This research was developed to evaluate the quality of particleboards manufactured from sawmill waste of nine tropical wood species of Amazônia. The following species were studied: Scleronema micranthum Ducke (Cardeiro), Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho), Scleronema sp. (Castanha-de-paca), Copaifera multijuga Hayne (Copaíba), Ocotea sp. (Louro), Ocotea guianensis Aubl (Louro-espinho), Caryocar villosum Pers. (Piquiarana), Couratari oblongifolia (Tauari) e Virola surinamensis Rol. Warb (Virola). The experimental boards were manufactured with the nominal density of 0.75 g.cm-3, using the urea-formaldehyde resin in the proportion of 8% of solid content based on oven dried wood particles. The boards were pressed at the specific pressure of 40 kgf/cm², temperature of 160 ºC and press time of eight minutes. The evaluations of test results obtained in this study indicate the potential use of the nine species from Amazon rainforest in the production of particleboard, highlighting Ecclinusa guianensis (Caucho) that, in general, showed better results of physical and mechanical properties.

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de painéis aglomerados produzidos com resíduos de processamento em serraria de nove espécies de madeiras tropicais da Amazônia. As espécies estudadas foram: Scleronema micranthum Ducke (Cardeiro), Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho), Scleronema sp. (Castanha-de-paca), Copaifera multijuga Hayne (Copaíba), Ocotea sp. (Louro), Ocotea guianensis Aubl (Louro-espinho), Caryocar villosum Pers. (Piquiarana), Couratari oblongifolia Ducke & R. Knuth (Tauari) e Virola surinamensis Rol. Warb (Virola). Foram produzidos painéis experimentais com densidade nominal de 0,75 g.cm-3, utilizando a resina uréia-formaldeído na proporção de 8% de sólidos - base peso seco das partículas. Os painéis foram prensados com pressão específica de 4,0 MPa, temperatura de 160 ºC e tempo de prensagem de oito minutos. As avaliações dos resultados de ensaios obtidos nesta pesquisa indicam a viabilidade técnica de utilização das nove espécies provenientes de florestas tropicais da Amazônia na produção de painéis de madeira aglomerada, com destaque para Ecclinusa guianensis Eyma (Caucho) que, de uma forma geral, apresentou melhores resultados de propriedades físico-mecânicas.

Durabilidade natural de painéis aglomerados confeccionados com Eucalyptus grandis e Bambusa vulgaris em ensaio de apodrecimento acelerado / Natural durability of Eucalyptus grandis and Bambusa vulgaris particleboards under accelerated fungi decay test

O conhecimento acerca da resistência dos compostos ligno-celulósicos ao ataque de microrganismos é primordial para servir de base à prevenção da deterioração e a correta destinação de emprego do material. Nesse sentido, avaliou-se a resistência natural a fungos apodrecedores de painéis aglomerados confeccionados com partículas de madeira (Eucalyptus grandis) e/ou bambu (Bambusa vulgaris). Foram produzidas, em laboratório, chapas aglomeradas nas dimensões 50x50x0,95cm e massa específica pré-estabelecida em 0,70g cm-3, nas proporções de 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 e 0:100 de madeira e bambu, respectivamente. A massa de partículas representou 91 por cento da massa seca de cada painel, sendo, o restante, formado pelo adesivo ureia-formaldeído (8 por cento) e parafina (1 por cento). Para determinação da resistência natural ao ataque de fungos xilófagos, os painéis foram testados em laboratório e utilizados os fungos Gloeophyllum trabeum (podridão parda) e Trametes versicolor (podridão branca), de acordo com a ASTM D 2017 (2005). Quanto aos resultados, foi observado que os painéis confeccionados com mistura de partículas de madeira e bambu apresentaram menor resistência ao ataque dos fungos apodrecedores. Painéis que utilizaram apenas bambu ou madeira apresentaram resistência biológica semelhante. Dentre os fungos, T. versicolor atacou mais severamente os painéis.

The knowledge about lignocellulosic compounds strength to the attack of microorganisms is essential for preventing deterioration and also for knowing the correct usage of the material. Accordingly it was evaluated the natural resistance of wood panels made of particles of wood (Eucalyptus grandis) and/or bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) to decay fungi. Particleboards were produced in laboratory, each of them with dimensions 50x50x0.95cm and density pre-set at 0.70g cm-3, in proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 of wood and bamboo, respectively. The particles mass represented 91 percent of the dry mass of each panel while the remainder was formed by the urea-formaldehyde adhesive (8 percent) and paraffin (1 percent). The panels were tested in the laboratory and Gloeophyllum trabeum (brown rot) and Trametes versicolor (white rot) were used to determine the natural resistance to attack by wood decay fungi. It was observed that panels which were made with a mixture of particles of wood and bamboo were less resistant to attack by decay fungi. Panels that were made from bamboo or wood only showed similar biological resistance. Among fungi, T. versicolor was the one that attacked panels more severely.