Brassica napus L. (rapeseed) stalk was used as a possible raw material for particleboard. A urea-formaldehyde resin was synthesized in the laboratory with resin solids at 50% content as a particleboard binder. The physical characteristics of the synthesized urea-formaldehyde resin were analyzed for solid content, specific gravity, viscosity, gel time, pH, and free formaldehyde content. The laboratory particleboards were made using rapeseed stalk and wood particles based on a rapeseed stalk oven dry weight of 0, 23, 48, 73, and 100% with UF resin. The physical and mechanical properties of the particleboards were tested according to the ASTM D 1037-99 procedure. The internal bond, bending strength and screw-holding properties of the particleboards made using the urea-formaldehyde resin decreased gradually with increasing rapeseed stalk content. However, the acceptable physical and mechanical properties of all the particleboards demonstrated that rapeseed stalk is a suitable raw material for particleboard manufacture.
Brassica napus L. (Rapeseed); Agricultural stalk; Urea-formaldehyde resin; Particleboard
