OSB panels made with wood species from the Brazilian Northeast's caatinga

This research study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of OSB (Oriented Strand Board) production using wood species from the Brazilian Northeast's Caatinga: marmeleiro (Croton sonderianusMuell. Arg.), jurema-branca (Piptadenia stipulacea (Benth.) Ducke) and catanduva (PiptadeniamoniliformisBenth.) and castor-oil polyurethane bicomponent resin. The properties investigated were: density; thickness swelling and water absorption (2 hours and 24 hours); modulus of elasticity and bending strength in the parallel and perpendicular directions; internal bond and resistance to screw withdrawal from the face, according to EN standards. The results of the analysis of the physical and mechanical properties showed the possibility of manufacturing OSB with the cited species in the laboratory, according to the mean values and the variability of properties equivalent to those panels produced on industrial scale, and compared to EN standard requirements for OSB/3 and OSB/4. Variance analysis showed that OSB panels containing catanduva wood strands yielded the best results in terms of mechanical properties, as for the physical properties, the best performances were those of panels made with the marmeleiro and jurema-branca species.

OSB; Caatinga; Stiffness; Strength.