The aim of this study was to to evaluate the use of waste from the timber industry of the Brazilian Amazon Region in the production of wood-cement composites. The compatibility of six Amazon hardwood native species with cement CP V ARI was assessed through axial compression tests in cylindrical specimens. The waste was used was only treated by washing in hot water for two hours. The ratio cement/wood was 3:1 in mass, along with aluminum sulfate curing accelerators at 3%, and calcium chloride curing accelerators at 3% and 5%. The results of the axial compression tests indicated the potential use of waste for three species combined with calcium chloride curing accelerator treatment at 5%. Wood-cement particleboards were made with waste of the species Cedrela odorata L. (Cedar), Vochysia maximum Ducke (Quaruba), Hymenaea courbaril L. (Jatoba) and a mixture of them. The test results of the physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards showed that all had adequate characteristics for the purpose, and the Cedar species particleboards presented the best performance.
Cement-wood composite; Amazon hardwoods
