Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particle Board from Lops and Tops of Melia dubia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of making three layered particle board panels from wood alternatives such as lops and tops (branches) of plantation timber species. Today lops and tops of the plantation timbers are considered to be of low value and are mostly used as fuel wood. Scenario remains same in Indian Plywood Industries which are mostly using plantation timbers as raw materials for peeling. In this study Lops and tops of Melia dubia was converted in to battens of irregular size which were later on converted in to wood chips and then to wood particles using particle board manufacturing facility, Urea formaldehyde resin was used as binding material and the particle boards were produced using a hydraulic hot press (FPT). These particle boards were tested for their physical and mechanical properties according to the procedures defined in IS 3087-2005. The test results indicate that the particle board made using the lops and tops of Melia dubia confirms to the requirements of IS-3087 2005 Grade II particle board of wood and other lignocellulosic materials for general purpose.