Journal of Applied Life Sciences International

It has been well established that many agricultural and forest residues might be useful as substitute for wood in forest products industry. In this study, low-value cotton processing residue (waste) mixture with red pine wood (fiber for Type 1 and chip for Type 2) were examined for composite manufacturing. In this regard, two types of panels were prepared with 10% urea-formaldehyde resin.

It was realized that the thickness swelling (TS) properties of boards prepared from both type panels are much higher than the standard value. This could be expected that there have no any considering hydrophobic chemicals added to furnish. However, some level improving effects (surface darkness) against wheathering found in some Type 2 boards. The highest Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) values of 15.07 N/mm² and 1773 N /mm² were found with P-coded boards (60:40, wood chip/cotton waste ratio). It could be realized that increasing cotton waste in proportion beyond 40% negative effects on MOR values for Type 1 boards. Interestingly, the F-coded board produced in a ratio of 50:50 with a mixture of cotton waste/ wood fiber was highest in Type 1 panels with an MOE value of 1285 N/ mm². Unlike the MOR and MOE properties, the highest Internal Bond (IB) value of 0.43 N/mm² measured with A- and C-coded (50:50, and 70:30, wood fiber/cotton waste mixture, respectively) experimental panels for Type 1 boards while the highest IB strength is calculated on R-coded panel with 0.54 N/ mm² for Type 2 boards (1:1, wood chip/cotton waste mixture).