WOOD-BASED BOARDS AS ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, THEIR QUALITY CONTROL

Mechanic Processing of timber is inevitably associated with technological waste, a fact that brings forth the concern about increasing the coefficient of beneficial use of wood. This problem is resolved, in a somehow satisfactory matter, through the production of goods using such wastes as raw materials, such as the tiles (slabs) chosen for this study. This is a factor that significantly affects their marketing. Albanian industry of furniture manufacturing uses massively particleboards (Pb) and medium density fibreboards (MDF) as raw materials. A study was carried out to analyze the properties that determine the use of these panels in joinery. Tests included the most important physical and mechanical-technological properties. The study focused on 18 mm thickness particleboard and 19 mm MDF. The whole process of panels sampling, test pieces preparation and their testing was performed according to EN standards. Results showed that panels fulfilled quality requirements specified by European standards. Bending strength of particleboards resulted 87% higher than EN reference value, whereas MDF about 50%. Tensile strength perpendicular to board’s plane resulted 23% higher than the minimum limit for particleboard and 26% for MDF. Unlike veneer which increased somewhat mechanical properties of the board, melamine didn’t present any positive impact on its properties. MDF presented higher capability in screw holding than particleboard. Screw holding resistance in edge wasn’t satisfactory for particleboard, but in plane presented values which must be taken into consideration. Quality of melamine lamination in particleboard resulted higher than veneer overlaying in MDF.