Properties of Medium Density Fiberboard Made from Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Dendrocalamus latiflorus with Various Age Classes

Abstract

Properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) made from Dendrocalamus hamiltonii grown at the Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang and Dendrocalamus latiflorus grown at Royal Agricultural Station Pang Da with various age classes, i.e.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old were investigated with 3 urea formaldehyde (UF) contents (6%, 10% and 14% based on dry weight of fiber). In these cases, board properties were tested by TISI 966-2547 and JISA 5906 - 1994. The results showed that MDF made from D. latiflorus was better than MDF made from D. hamiltonii. At 14% UF (based on dry weight of fiber) content, MDF made from 4 years-old D. latiflorus and those from 1, 2, 4, and 5 years-old D. hamiltonii were above the minimum requirements for MDF as specified in the TISI 966-2547 and JIS A 5906 - 1994 standards. However, D. hamiltonii of 5 years old was found to be an unsuitable age for MDF producing board with 10% (based on dry weight of fiber) UF content.

Keywords: MDF, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, Royal Project Foundation