PARTICLEBOARD PRODUCED WITH CHROMATED COPPER ARSENATE- AND BORATE-TREATED CAIXETA WOOD: A TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY STUDY

Abstract

Brazilian flora has more than 12 thousand tropical wood species, which can be the raw material for the construction industry. Chromated copper borate (CCB) and chromated copper arsenate (CCA) are wood preservative chemicals, which can generate toxic waste. Particleboards are usually produced from Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. wood particles and a polymeric matrix (often formaldehyde-based), and they are used as raw material mainly for the furniture industry. This study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of particleboard production using caixeta wood (Simarouba amara Aubl.) particles and bicomponent castor oil-based polyurethane resin for tropical wood waste management, as well as study the impact of CCA/CCB treatments on the performance of these panels according to NBR 14810 standards. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests was performed to compare ten physical and mechanical properties of the panels produced with CCA, CCB, and non-treated caixeta wood particles. The performance of caixeta wood panels was similar to the usually produced boards (using Pinus sp. and Eucalyptus sp. wood). Furthermore, preservative treatments did not change significantly the mechanical performance of panels. However, water absorption increased and thickness swelling decreased in CCA/CCB treated samples.