ABSTRACT Efforts have been done in order to decrease the human dependence on petroleum materials. This idea can be applied for wood adhesives and wood products. This study proposes to evaluate laminated veneer lumber (LVL) panels of Hevea brasiliensis produced with castor oil-based polyurethane and resorcinol formaldehyde in different grammages. Six rubber tree (12 years old) with diameters at breast height (DBH) > 25 cm were harvested to generate veneers (500 x 500 x 2 mm; length, width, and thickness, respectively) for the panels production. The veneers were pre classified by a non-destructive impulse excitation method (Sonelastic system). Seven veneers were arranged in the same grain direction to produce each LVL. The following grammages were used for each adhesive type: 240, 280 and 320 g.m-². The volumetric swelling of the panels, glue line strength under dry, wet and post-boiling conditions, and stiffness and strength in static bending tests in flatwise and edgewise positions were evaluated. The glue line was evaluated by optical microscopy. The panels with grammages of 240 g.m-² had the highest volumetric swelling for both adhesives. As the grammage increased from 240 to 280 g.m-², the panel volumetric swelling decreased 32.53% for the resorcinol formaldehyde adhesive and 21.42% for the castor oil-based polyurethane adhesive. The panels glued with the vegetal polyurethane adhesive presented the best results for shear strength in the glue line. No significant statistical differences were found between the compositions for static bending. The results indicate that rubber wood glued with vegetal polyurethane has the potential to be used for production of LVL panels and consequently replace the petroleum based adhesives.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of Hevea brasiliensis wood wastes for production structural pieces of glued laminated (glulam) timber. Three trees with age close to 25 years and diameter at breast height (DBH) higher than 500 mm were obtained. The basic density of the wood were quantified, as well as the stiffness and the strength in static bending, shear strength and parallel compression to grain and hygroscopic equilibrium moisture. The beams of glulam were evaluated according to the modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR) and delamination. Due to the bending properties MOR (75.14 MPa) and MOE (8166.79 MPa), as well as the shear strength (12.29 MPa) obtained, was concluded by the suitability of the rubber wood for the production of glulam beams. The composite beams presented values of MOR (75.14 MPa) and MOE (8166.79 MPa) compatible with species traditionally used in the production of glulam beams. The adhesive bond quality was verified by the delamination test, presenting delamination of 4.95 %, indicating its use for internal and external environments.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of particleboards using particles from wood shaving at three urea-formaldehyde adhesive contents: 6, 9 and 12% (dry mass basis). The particleboards were produced with nominal density of 0.70 g.cm-3, pressing cycle with temperature of 160 °C, pressure of 3.92 MPa and time of 8 minutes. The properties of water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), both after 2 and 24 hours, apparent density, compression ratio, perpendicular traction, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) in static bending, Janka hardness and screw withdrawal resistance were evaluated. The results of the tests indicated that with the increase of the adhesive content from 6 to 12%, there was no significant statistical difference for the average values of apparent density and compression ratio, being 0.621 g.cm-3 and 1.234, respectively, and the WA and the TS are decreased after 2 and 24 hours. There was a gain of 93% for the MOR property and 64% for the MOE property with the increase of the adhesive content. For perpendicular traction, the highest mean value was 0.67 MPa, referring to the panels with 12% of adhesive. For Janka hardness, the treatments with contents of 9 and 12% of adhesive presented the highest average values being of 21.60 and 25.26 MPa, respectively. In general, the use of wood shavings is feasible for the production of particleboards with a 12% adhesive content.

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to investigate sugarcane bagasse (SCB) particleboards, using two kinds of particles, from pith and fibers, reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (NCC). The NCCs were dispersed in the adhesive urea formaldehyde (UF) using a sonificator in two proportions (0 and 1%). The NCCs and UF were applied in the SCB particles using a rotary blender. The particleboards were produced in three layers using two kinds of particles: pith and fibers. After dispersion of the adhesive, the mixture was compressed to produce the particleboards, which were characterized by physical, mechanical and thermal properties. The anatomical and chemical features relating to pith and fiber were very similar. The particleboards made with and without NCCs did not differ statistically for most properties: modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), water absorption (WA) thermal conductivity (TC), and the volume heat capacity (VHC). Particleboards made only with fibers and without NCCs showed higher internal bond (IB). In the other hand particleboards made only with fibers in the face and pith in the core (without NCCs) showed lower thickness swelling after 24 hours (TS24h). Probably, the NCCs did not improve the particleboards performance, because less links were available for SCB to interact with the adhesive. For the others properties the particleboards made with pith and fibers did not showed statistical difference (MOE, MOR, TC, WA, TC and VHC), demonstrating that separation of pith and fiber are not significant and does not affect the final properties of particleboards.