Evaluation of selected properties of oriented strand boards made from fast growing wood species

Abstract

Three fast-growing wood species in Romania, namely birch, willow, and poplar, were considered in this work. These species may have potential to replace softwoods or mixtures of wood species frequently used in the production of oriented strand boards (OSB). This study evaluated some physico-mechanical properties of these wood species that influence the performance of OSB boards made using 100% of strands from each individual species. Wood strands were cut, dried, screened, and sorted in order to form the core and surface layers of OSB boards. They were blended with a polymeric diphenyl methane diisocyanate adhesive (pMDI) and compressed with the help of a hydraulic press. The mechanical tests were performed under standard laboratory conditions. The obtained OSB boards made of each of the wood species met the EN standard of minimum requirements for OSB/2 properties, except the MOE of poplar-OSB, while its MOR was higher than that obtained for OSB made of birch even for small differences in board density. The birch-OSB presented superior elastic properties. Results of this experimental work can have industrial applications for an efficient use of low-grade raw material.