Volume 19 Issue 3

Particleboards find extensive application in both civil construction and the furniture industry. Nevertheless, concerns about the interaction of panels with humidity require the exploration of alternative sources to develop a product that meets the requirements for use. This work aims to produce single-layer particleboards with coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera) as substrate, bonded with 10% by mass castor oil-based polyurethane resin (CPUR). Two groups of mixtures were proposed, different from each other in the initial moisture content of the Cocos nucifera particles, ranging from 0 to 2% and from 4% to 6%. For this purpose, density (D), thickness swelling after 24 h (TS), moisture content (MC), and water absorption (WA) were evaluated. The Tukey mean contrast test, at a 5% significance level, was used to verify the influence of the initial moisture content of the particles on the physical properties of the particleboards. The microstructure of the composites was assessed through the utilization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The results indicated better compaction of the C. nucifera particles, resulting in fewer voids, contributing to the densification of the panels and, with this, the reduction of water absorption by 15.1%.

Wood specimens were dyed by boiling them in the presence of walnut shells and dye to penetrate the dyestuff into the sample. Specimens prepared from Scots pine, oak, and beech woods were boiled separately in walnut shell, water, and NaOH environment, and the penetration of the dyestuff into the samples was ensured. Sodium hydroxide solution was preferred because it facilitates the dissolution of the hemicelluloses in the wood and the dyestuffs in the walnut shell. Alum was added in other samples to reveal the mordant effect on the adhesion of dyestuffs to wood. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis revealed that wood degradation primarily occurs due to evaporation of free water at 50 to 120 °C, followed by lignin and cellulose breakdown across a wide temperature range of 160 to 600 °C. Treatment with NaOH and NaOH+alum notably reduced the peak temperatures in differential-thermogravimetric analysis by indicating an effect on lignin. This was supported by Fourier transform infrared analysis, particularly in the disappearance of carboxyl groups at 1710 cm^–¹ and significant decreases in peak intensities at 1027, 1247, 1315, and 1501 cm^–¹. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the dyed parts obtained can be used in the wooden toy industry.

This study investigated the mechanical performance of hybrid tubes made via roll-wrapping and enhanced with an aluminum mesh and epoxy matrix (AL-DMEM). The specimens included Basalt + Jute (BJAJB), Basalt + Bamboo (BBmABmB), Basalt + Banana (BBaABaB), Basalt + Hemp (BHAHB), and Basalt (BAB). The BBmABmB specimen showed the best mechanical properties with the highest peak crushing force, specific energy absorption, mean crushing force, and total energy absorption. The AL-DMEM integration improved load-bearing capacity and energy absorption, reducing matrix cracking and fiber breakage. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis highlighted BBmABmB’s robust reinforcement. Its superior structural integrity and aluminum content make it suitable for applications requiring high structural integrity, such as micromobility vehicles, highlighting the potential of AL-DMEM-reinforced composites in advanced engineering applications.

Substituting the use of non-renewable materials with wood-based products in the furniture industry is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This substitution effect can be quantified by estimating the displacement factor (DF) of wood products. However, the lack of a standardized DF calculation method limits a reliable estimation of DFs for wood substitution in the furniture industry. Herein, DF values were determined for wood substitution in office furniture in Korea using three DF calculation methods, single DF, replacement rate-based DF, and more/less wood-intensive DF. The results indicated that substituting non-wood furniture with wood-based furniture can help reduce GHG emissions, with the most positive DF values observed. The negative DF values generated using the replacement rate-based DF method highlighted the importance of weight calculation when considering wood products. However, the difference in DF calculation methods between studies and the lack of life cycle assessment (LCA) data in Korea must be addressed. In conclusion, these results emphasize the need for a standardized DF calculation method and LCA data to improve the accuracy and applicability of the DF of wood-based furniture products. The present results provide insights into the environmental benefits of replacing non-wood products with wood products in the furniture industry.