Fiberboards Made from Acetylated Bagasse Fiber

Authors

  • Roger M. Rowell
  • Francis M. Keany

Keywords:

Bagasse, acetylation, fiberboards, water swelling, strength properties, equilibrium moisture content

Abstract

Bagasse fiber was acetylated with acetic anhydride alone to various levels of acetyl weight gain. Acetylation causes the bagasse fiber to become more hydrophobic, as evidenced by a lowering of the equilibrium moisture content as the level of acetylation increased. Acetylated bagasse fiber and fiberboards made from acetylated fiber at acetyl weight gains of about 17% had an equilibrium moisture content of about one-third that of controls at all relative humidities tested. Fiberboards made from acetylated fiber swelled at a much slower rate and to a lesser extent as compared to control fiberboards. Internal bond strength was higher in acetylated fiberboards, while moduli of rupture and elasticity were slightly lower in acetylated boards than in control boards.

References

American Society for Testing Materials. 1982. Standard methods of evaluating the properties of wood-base fiber and particle panel materials. ASTM D 1037-38. American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA.nNilsson, T., R. M. Rowell, R. Simonson, and A.-M. Tillman. 1988. Fungal resistance of pine particle boards made from various types of acetylated chips. Holzforschung 42(2):123-126.nRowell, R. M. 1984. Penetration and reactivity of cell wall components. Chapter 4, pages 175-210 in R. M. Rowell, ed. Chemistry of solid wood. Adv. Chem. Ser. 207. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.nRowell, R. M., and W. D. Ellis. 1978. Determination of dimensional stabilization of wood using the water-soak method. Wood and Fiber 10(2):104-111.nRowell, R. M., A.-M. Tillman, and R. Simonson. 1986a. A simplified acetylation procedure for pine chips for dimensionally stabilized particleboard. Paperi ja Puu 68(10):740-744.nRowell, R. M., A.-M. Tillman, and R. Simonson. 1986b. A simplified procedure for the acetylation of hardwood and softwood flakes for flakeboard production. J. Wood Chem. Technol. 6(3):427-448.n

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Published

2007-06-28

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Section

Research Contributions