Lim, N.P.T., Korai, H. and Pek, Y.K. Evaluation Of Acacia mangium Grown In Sarawak For Manufacture Of Particleboard
Single-layer and three-layer particleboards of densities aimed at 600, 700 and 800 kgm^-3 made from 0.6 mm thickness Acacia mangium flakes with different contents of urea formaldehyde resin were found to satisfy most of the stipulated minimum requirements for Type 18 of Japanese Industrial Standard JIS A 5908-1994. An increase in board density or resin content of the single-layer particleboard generally increases the strength properties and reduces thickness swelling. Both types of particleboards of density aimed at 600 kgm^-3 exhibited lower modulus of rupture (MOR) values and could only meet Type 13 Classification. The comparison of physical and strength properties between Acacia mangiumand Mixed Hardwood species particleboards showed that Acacia mangium generally possess better properties than the latter. The conclusion drawn from this evaluation study is that 10-year-old Acacia mangiumis a suitable material for particleboard manufacture.