Volume 7 No. 2

ISSN 1675-7009

DEC 2010

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH JOURNAL

Chief Editor

Zaiki Awang Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Managing Editor

Razidah Ismail

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Editorial Board

Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia David Shallcross, University of Melbourne, Australia

Halila Jasmani, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Hamidah Mohd. Saman, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Huang Siew Lai, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Ichsan Setya Putra, Bandung Institue of Technology, Indonesia

Ideris Zakaria, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia Ir. Suhaimi Abd. Talib, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Jamil Salleh, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia K. Ito, Chiba University, Japan

Kartini Kamaruddin, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Luciano Boglione, University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA

Mohd Hanapiah Abidin, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Mohd Rozi Ahmad, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Mohd. Nasir Taib, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Muhammad Azmi Ayub, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Norashikin Saim, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Nordin Abu Bakar, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Robert Michael Savory, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Saadiah Yahya, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Salmiah Kasolang, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Shah Rizam Mohd. Shah Baki, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Titik Khawa Abd. Rahman, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Wahyu Kuntjoro, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Yin Chun Yang, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Zahrah Ahmad, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Copyright © 2010 Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronics, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise; without prior permission in writing from the Publisher. Scientific Research Journal is jointly published by Research Management Institute (RMI) and University Publication Centre (UPENA), Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The views and opinion expressed therein are those of the individual authors and the publication of these statements in the Scientific Research Journal do not imply endorsement by the publisher or the editorial staff. Copyright is vested in Universiti Teknologi MARA. Written permission is required to reproduce any part of this publication.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH JOURNAL

Vol. 7 No. 2 December 2010 ISSN 1675-7009

1. Cu6Sn5 and Cu3Sn Intermetallics Study in the Sn-40Pb/Cu

System During Long-term Aging Ramani Mayappan Zainal Arifin Ahmad

1

2. The Properties of Agricultural Waste Particle Composite Reinforced with Woven Cotton Fabric Mohd Iqbal Misnon Shahril Anuar Bahari Mohd Rozi Ahmad Wan Yunus Wan Ahmad Jamil Salleh Muhammad Ismail Ab Kadir

19

3. Hyperelastic and Elastic-Plastic Approaches for Modelling Uniaxial Tensile Performance of Woven Fabrics Yahya, M. F. Chen, X

31

4.

Effects of Particle Sizes, Wood to Cement Ratio and Chemical Additives on the Properties of Sesendok (Endospermum Diadenum) Cement-bonded Particleboard Jamaludin Kasim Shaikh Abdul Karim Yamani Ahmad Firdaus Mat Hedzir Ahmad Syafiq Badrul Hisham Mohd Arif Fikri Mohamad Adnan

57

5.

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Activities of Nitrogen-Oxygen-Sulfur (NOS) Transition Metal Complexes Derived from Novel S-2, 4-dichlorobenzyldithiocarbazate with 5-fluoroisatin Mohd Abdul Fatah Abdul Manan Hadariah Bahron Karimah Kassim Mohd Asrul Hafiz Muhamad Syed Nazmi Sayed Mohamed

67

Scientific Research Journal Vol. 7 No.2. 19-30. 2010

The Properties of Agricultural WasteParticle Composite Reinforced with

Woven Cotton Fabric

MohdIqbalMlsnon', Shahril Anuar BaharP, Mohd Rozi.Ahmad',WanYunus WanAhmad',Jamil Salleh' andMuhammad Ismail AbKadir'

'Textile Technology Program, Faculty ofApplied Sciences2Bio-Composite Technology Program. Faculty ofApplied Sciences

Universiti Teknologi MARA. 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, MalaysiaEmail: texiqbal@Salam.uitm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

The production ofparticle composites using agricultural waste materials is anarea ofsignificant research interest. 1ngeneral the properties ofagriculturalwaste particle composites are considered to be inferior to those ofcommercialparticleboards. In this study, the inclusion of woven colton fabric has beenused to overcome this drawback. Particle composites were manufacturesfromcoconut shell- and rubberwood-particles using urea formaldehyde as a binderandcombined with woven cotton fabric to reinforce the material. Thefabricatedagricultural waste particle composites were then evaluated with respect to theeffect ofthe number offabric layers in the composite structure and the inherenteffect on the mechanical (flexural and impact strength) and physical (waterabsorption and thickness swelling) properties. Agricultural waste particlecomposites without any reinforcement were used as control samples in thisstudy. The test results indicate that theflexural and impactproperties ofparticlecomposites reinforced with woven colton fabric are better than those for thecontrol samples. It was also determined that both the mechanical andphysicalproperties improve with increasing fabric layers, except with respect tothickness swelling.

Keywords: Particle Composite, Fabric Reinforcement. Flexural Strength,Impact Strength, Physical Test

ISSN 1675-7009© 2010 Universiti Tcknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia.

19

Scientific Research Journal

Introduction

Particle composites were originally intended to replace modem plywood,because since the end ofthe 1940s there has been a significant reductionin the availability of lumber required for plywood manufacture [1,2].Composites are heavily used in the construction of furniture andlightweight interior decorations, such as tables and chairs, kitchencabinets, racks, cupboards, partitions, ceilings and wall components, asa consequence of its cheapness and density, but also because it tendsto be more uniform than conventional wood and plywood [2].Unfortunately the use of wood-based materials is increasing in-linewith increasing living standards irrespective ofthe quantity ofavailablewood resources.

In Malaysia, rubberwood is a prominent raw material used in theparticle composite industry [2], however such high demand for this rawmaterial has led to a rapid decrease in its former prevalence and aconsequent supply shortage for manufacturers. In order to overcomethis shortage, researchers are trying to develop alternative materials usingagricultural waste, which is advantageous in that they are significantlycheaper than rubberwood [3-7].

Agricultural waste is a major contributor to environmental problemsin that there are excessive quantities ofagricultural waste, predominantlyin the form of natural fibres, and the disposal of this waste is thus farinefficient. The transformation of bagasse, banana stem, paddy huskand coconut shell into particle composites is an effective solution bywhich to produce useful commodities whilst reducing agricultural waste.Unfortunately, an inherent property ofparticle composites is that theyare weaker than rubberwood particleboard [4,5,7,8].

Combining rubberwood with agricultural waste is a means to canenhance the properties ofagricultural waste particle composites therebycontributing to a reduction in the dependency on rubberwood andenvironmental problems caused by large volumes ofagricultural waste.It is presumed that the addition oftextile fabric to composites comprisingof agricultural waste and rubberwood will exhibit better mechanicaland physical properties than conventional composites.

This study has combined agriculturalwaste, specificallycoconut shell,rubberwood and woven cotton fabrics into a composite particleboard.The resultant composite has been evaluated with respect to its flexural,impact, water absorption and thickness swelling properties, as well as

20

The Properties ofAgricultural Waste Particle Composite Reinforced

the improved properties exhibited by the boards as a consequence oftheinclusion ofwoven cotton fabrics, which reinforce the structure.

Experimental

Material

Rubberwood supplied by Nian Niaga Sdn. Bhd and coconut shell obtainedfrom a coconut plantation in Sabak Bernam, Selangor,were bound togetherusing a urea formaldehyde resin to construct the composite particleboards.Different layers of a medium weight woven cotton fabric supplied byInovasi Uyon Enterprise were worked into the composite structure inorder to investigate the effect ofcotton fabric reinforcement, with respectto the number of layers, on the flexural, impact, water absorption andthickness swelling properties. The particle composites fabricated were;rubberwood and coconut shell, which constituted !the control sample,rubberwood and coconut shell reinforced with 2 cotton fabric layers (2LCR), rubberwood and coconut shell reinforced with 3 cotton fabriclayers (3 LCR) and rubberwood and coconut shell reinforced with 4cotton fabric layers (4 LCR).

Method

Rubberwood and coconut shell were manually crushed into small piecesusing a hammer before being milled to produce particles. The particlesproduced were approximately 0.1 mm thick and were dried to 5% moisturecontent in an oven dryer.The resultant dried particles for both rubberwoodand coconut shell were then mixed in a 50:50 ratio.

Resin was prepared by adding and mixing 2% ammonium chloride(hardener) to a urea formaldehyde (UF) solution; the consequent finalbinder mixture comprised of hardener and resin. The resin mixture wasapplied using spray nozzles mounted on the blender's rotating centrifugalapplicators thereby ensuring a very fine spray and maximising bondingbetween the particles.

The particlelbinder mixt ure was manually placed on a wooden mould(325 x 325 mm) alternately with layersofcotton fabric yielding a sandwich­like board. The fabrics were coated with UF before being placed uponthe particlelbinder mixture to ensure maximised adhesion between thesurface of the mixture and the fabrics. Upon completing the layering

21

Scientific Research Journa l

proce ss thc resultant "sandwich" was cured using a hot press at 170°Cfor 6 minu tes, Figurc I. The result ant 12mm thick cured boards werethcn lett for onc hour under normal conditions to attain room tcmpcrat urc.

Press Press

ibberwocd +sconut Shdl

1 • • 1J. Steel Plate 1Colton

<, Rl--Cl

Mould Mould

J. .l.I Steel Plate I

• • ~t~~

WovenFabric

Figure I : Schematicof the Hot Pressing of'the ParticleCompositesReinforcedwith Woven Cotton Fabric Layers

Flexura l testin g was performed on a Instron 3382 using the threepoint method in accordance with the I3ritish Standard, I3S EN 310 : 1993[9]. T hc Icngth, width and thickness or thc specimens were 290 x 50 x12 mm, respectively, using a span Icngth or 240 nun and a cross-headspeed or2.5 mm/min . Impact testing using a railing we ight conducted ona Dynatup 8250, whereby samples were clamped horizontally and thcnstruck by a vert ically dropped weight . The Iinc of init ial contact . thcdist ance from the cen tre linc or thc sample and thc sample clamp. ismaint ained at a fixed distan ce for all samples.

Water absorpt ion and thic kness swelling tests were performed inaccordance wit h I3rit ish Standard, I3S EN 3 17: 1993 [10] . Samples 50 x50 x 12 nun wit h vert ically c1can faces were immersed in water of pH 7± I and 20°C ± 1. Sample weights pre- and post- Immersion were recordedfrom which thc quant ity ofwater absorpti on was determined, Thicknessswelling measurements, as a consequen ce of immersion in water, werepre form ed with respect to thc average changes in sample thi cknessdetermined at four midway point s.

22

The Properties (~lAgricl{ltll"lIllJ llste Partid e Composite Reinforced

A Duncan M ult ip le Range Test (DM RT) and reg ression analysiswe re co nduct ed in order 10 ana lyze the propert ies of agric ult ural wastecomposite sa mples with respect to the inclusion o f woven colton fabriclayers and to determine a relationship bel ween th e board propert ies andthe number o f woven cotton fabric layers. respectively.

Results and Discussion

Figure 2 pre sents the results for the flexural test ing of the agri cult uralwaste part icle compos ite boards reinforced with woven cotton fab ric. Itis evident th at the presence o f cotton fabri c layers significant ly influencesth e flexural prop erties ( flex ural st rengt h and flexural modulus) of th eboard s. Figures 2(a) and 2(b ) indicate th at the ag ric ult ura l waste particle

composite boards whic h incorporated cotton fabric layers in theircon struet ion exhibit higher flex ura l strengt h and moduli than th e controlsamples. The th ree co lton fabric layer samples (3L CR ) exhibit t he highestflexural st rength and flexural moduli . which are approximately 2 12% and109 %. h igh er th an t he va lues determined for t he co ntrol sam ples.respec tively. l3y co mparison. com posite samples with four layers (4 LC R)exhibited lower flex ura l strength and flex ural moduli th an lor 3LCR. whic hmay indicate a lim it on the number of co lton fabric layers t hat ca n beinco rporated.

Tab le I presen t s the findi ngs from th e DM RT an alysi s o f t heco mpos ite boa rds flexural properties with respect to th e nu mber o f woven

MPa GP,9

8.112 '6 ~38'4

7 6,397 1.194

F'12 1.104 P6 5 492

5 '0

4 O. ~33 2600 0.6

2

r I 04

1 020

OleA (Conlrol) 2lCA Jl CR 4lCR 00OlCR (Control) 2lC R 3lC R .1lCR

Patele Boom Types PaLC\e Boom Ty:>eS

(a ) ;-":0 1.:: LCR = Cotton Fabric Luycrs (h i

Figure 2: Flexural Properti esofAgricultural Waste Parti cle Composite BoardsReinforced wi th Woven Cotton Fabric: (a) Flexural Strength and

(b) Flexural M odulus

Scientific Research Journal

cotton fabric layers. It is evident that there are significant differences inthe flexural properties of the samples and that the flexural strength andmoduli for 3LCR are significantly higher than those for the other samples.The DMRT analysis assigns the control samples to be in group 1, thusconfirming that the presence of the woven cotton fabrics enhancescomposite flexural properties.

Table 1:DMRTAnalysisof the FlexuralPropertiesofAgricultural WasteParticle Composite BoardsReinforced with Woven Cotton Fabric:

(a) flexuralstrength and(b) flexural modulus

(a) (b)

Subset SubsetSample Sample

2 3 2 3

Control 2.53381 Control 2.53381

2LCR 5.24857 2LCR 1.14656

4LCR 6.70847 4LCR 1.19441

3LCR 9.15902 3LCR 1.71605

Sig. 0.195 1 Sig. 0.819 1

Figure 3 presents flexure load-extension plots for 3LCR and 4LCRcomposite boards. The 4LCR composite boards exhibit little flexuralloading thereby inferring that the inclusion of too many fabric layersreduces the flexural properties (flexural strength and flexural modulus)ofthe composite boards, unlike the 3LCR boards. This finding is furtherexemplified in Figure 4, which presents the typical flexure failurecharacteristics ofthe woven fabric reinforced agricultural waste particlecomposite boards at the edge surface of a tension zone. With respect toFigure 4 (b), it is evident that brittle shear and delamination occur at the4LCR tension zone; a consequence of a high number of fabric layers,which promotes delamination thus reducingflexural loading.Consequentlyit would appear that 3 fabric layers is the optimum number to beincorporated into the agricultural waste particle composite boards, therebyoffering flexibility yet reinforcing the board structure, since the 3LCR isable to withstand higher flexure loading.

24

The Properties ofAgricultural Waste Particle Composite Reinforced

-*-I

V .--- -r: - -

l~I

-> ~ <,

J(XJ

100o 3 5 6 7 8

Flexure ext ens ion ( I1Ull)

(al

9x76)3

./' f"I-: \

-: \-: --

~ t.....

)-

o

50

150

100

-51o

Flexure extension (mill )

Ih)

Figure 3:TypicalFlexure Load-extensionPlots Ill!" Agri cult ural Waste Part icleComposite Boards Reinforced with Woven Colto n Fabric; (a) 3LCR and (b) 4LCR

Xotc : RJ> = Rubbcrwo od Paruclc. CSP = CUClinUI H usk Parti cle. LCI{ = Cot ton FabricLayer. IJn = Dclnnunution. BS = Brittle: Shear

Figure -l: Typical Flexure FailureCharacterist ics ofAgricultural Waste ParticleComposite Boards Reinforced with Woven Co tto n Fabrics at an Edge Surface

Tension Zo ne: (a ) 3LC R and (b )4L C R

25

Scientific Research Journal

Figure 5 present s the results of the impact test ing of agriculturalwaste part icle comp osit e boards. The increasing number ofcolton fabriclayers evident ly significantly improves the impact st rength of the boards;as expected a greater num ber of fabric layers results in a more impactresist ant board. The impact strength of the composite boards is improvedby between approx imately 84- 128% over thc cont rol sample result s.

Table 2 present s the DMRT analysis o f the impact properties ofagricultural waste particle composite boards reinforced with woven coltonfabric from which it is evident that the impact st rengths of the 4LCRcomposite boards are significant ly higher than those of the other samples.

Total Energy (J)

12

10

8

6

4

2

o

9 086 ~7.992

-1 ,338

OLCA (CootroJ) 2LCA 3LCA HCA

Paticle Board T"lXlS

Figure 5: Impact Propert ies ofAgricult ural \Vaste Particle Composite BoardsReinforced with Woven Cotton Fabric

Table 2: DMRTAnalysis of thc Impact Propcrt lcs ofAgricuhura lWaste Particle Composite BoardsReinforced with \\'ovenCotton Fabric

SubsetSample

2 3

Control 4 .33 8 16

2LCR 7.99 1 17

3LCR 9 .08563 9.08563

4LC R 9 .9074 7

Stg. O. t S9 0 .3t 5

26

The Properties ofAgricultural /lliste Particle Composite Reinforced

Figure 6 present s the results for the water absorpt ion and thicknessswe lling tests performed on the agrieultural waste part icJe compos iteboards reinforced with woven colton fabric. The presence of'couon fabriclayerssignificantly infl uences the water absorptionand th ickness swellingpropert ies of the com posite board s with respect to the contro l sampleboards. Figure 6(a) presen ts the results of the water absorption analys isof the compos ite board samples whe reby the 3LCR composite boardsexhibit the least percentage absorption (22.149%). which is approximately57% lower than that exhibited by the control samples . Interest ingly the4 LCR samp les have the second highest water absorpt ion percen tage.which may be attributed to improved accessibility to absorbent componentsin the composite structure and the consequent improved abili ty to trapwater betwee n the fabric and particle layers.

It is ofsign iticant inte rest that altho ugh the 3LCR composite boa rdexhibits the most desirable properties. with respect to flexura l strengthand moduli . and water absorpt ion. compared to the other composite boardsconsidered in the prese nted work. it also exhibits the highest percent ageth ickness swelling ( 16.128%). Figure 6(b). which is less desi rable. T heincrease in thickness swe lling may be a conseq uence o f the number o ffabric layers. whereby the 2LCR. 3LCR and 4L CR compos ite boards allexhibit increased fabric layer-partid e layer delaminat ion.

Table 3 present s the DMRT analysis result s o f the wat er absorptio nand thickness swelling tests on the composite boards.The analysis indicatesthat the incJusion of woven colton fabric in the const ruct ion ofagricult uralwas te part ic lc co mpos ite boards increases resistanceto water absorption.

% %OJ 16

520 57 is 1 ~,;28eo 14,013

" 12.814.., 1230 725 31' ~.1 10

97883J

22.149 63J •,10

2

0 0OLCR (Control) 2LCR 3LCR 4LCR OLCR (Control) 2LCR 3LCR 4 LCR

PalC!e Board Types Pal-cJe Board TI'J)eS

( a ) (b)

Figure 6: Water Ab sorption and ThicknessSwelling Properti es o f Agri culturalWaste Particle Composite Boards with Woven Colton Fabric :

(a) Water Ab sorption and (b) Th ickness Swe lling.

27

Scientific Research Journal

with respect to the control samples. However, analysis of the thicknessswellingresults indicates little or no significantimprovement inperformanceas a consequence of fabric inclusion.

Table 3: DMRT Analysis ofthe Water Absorption and Thickness SwellingProperties ofAgricultural Waste Particle Composite Boards Reinforced with

Woven Cotton Fabric: (a) Water Absorption and (b) Thickness Swelling

Subset SubsetSample Sample

2 3

3LCR 22.14918 Control 9.78844

2LCR 30.70533 30.70533 2LCR 12.81377

4LCR 31.84446 4LCR 14.01285

Control 52.05655 3LCR 16.128

Sig. 0.055 0.787 1 Sig. 0.184

(a) (b)

Figures 7(a) and (b) present the linear regression analysis of theflexural versus impact results and water absorption versus thicknessswelling properties, respectively. In Figure 7(a) the flexural propertiesappear to have a linear relationship with respect to the impact propertiessince the coefficient ofvariation (Rl-value) is 0.66 I, which correspondsto a direct proportional association. It can therefore inferred that as flexuralproperties increase so does impact resistance. In contrast the results

MPa

10 %35

9 • •8 y " 0.772x·0.516 • 30

R'" 0.6617 25 y " -o.150x + 18.416

20 • R' =0.092•5 • •4 15

3 102 •1 •0 0

2 10 12 15 25 35 45 55 65 75

Joule %

(a) (b)

Figure 7: Linear Regression Analysis ofAgricultural Waste Particle CompositeBoards Reinforced with Woven Cotton Fabric: (a) Flexural Properties Versus

Impact Properties, and (b) Water Absorption Properties VersusThickness Swelling Properties.

28

The Properties ofAgricultural Waste Particle Composite Reinforced

presented in Figure 7(b) are far more scattered (R2 = 0.092) therebyimplying that there is little or no relationship between water absorptionproperties and thickness swelling.

Conclusion

Particle composite boards constructed from rubberwood and coconutshell particles bound together using a urea formaldehyde binder andreinforced with woven cotton fabric exhibit enhanced flexural, impactand water absorption properties. Unfortunately these boards are alsoswell to a greater degree than boards constructed with the absence ofreinforcement. The flexural strengths, flexural moduli, impact strengthsand water absorption resistance exhibited by the reinforced boards arebetter than those of the control sample boards by at least III %, 55%,39% and 31%, respectively. However, the presence of woven cottonfabric in the composite boards increases thickness swelling by at least3% compared to the control samples. It can be concluded that the

I

agricultural waste particle composites reinforced with 3 layers ofcottonfabric exhibit the best flexural, impact and water absorption propertiescompared to the other samples considered and that the reinforcementof such composites using woven cotton fabric enhances the inherentflexural, impact and water absorption resistance properties.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported financially by the Research ManagementInstitute (RMI), UiTM Malaysia. Special thanks also go to all thetechnical staffat the Bio-Composite and Textile Technology Workshopsin the Faculty ofApplied Sciences, UiTM Malaysia, for providing thevaluable technical input and information required to construct the particlecomposite boards reinforced with woven cotton fabric used in thisresearch.

References

[1] Anonymous, Particleboard, [Online document], 2009, [cited 2010,July 25], Available:http://en.wikipedia.orgjwiki/Particle_board

29

Scientific Research Journal

[2] S.A. Bahari, M. Ahmad, M.A. Jamaludin, K. Nordin and M.1.Ariffin, 2007. Potential of bamboo as an alternative raw materialthrough production of bio-compositepanel board for light weightinterior construction uses. Proceeding, IPPS 2007, pp. 319-326.

[3] W. Liese, 1988. Bamboo as an Alternative Material in the Contextof Dimishing Resoures, Institute for Wood Biology, HamburgUniversity, Leuschnerstrasse 91, D 2050 Hamburg 80. WestGermany.

[4] A. Pandey, C.R. Soccol, P.Nigam and V.T. Soccol, 2000. Biologicalpotential of agro-industrial residues. I: sugarcane bagasse, Bio­Resources Technology, vol. 74, Elsevier Science Ltd: pp. 69-80.

[5] S. Rahim, M. Sufflan, B. Saimin and S. Jalali, 2002. The technicalfeasibility of using oil palm fibre for particleboard manufacture.Proceeding ofthe Third National Seminar on Wood-Based PanelProducts: Wood-Based Panel Products in the New Millennium:Meeting Demands and Challenges. Forest Research Institute ofMalaysia(FRIM): 101-105.

[6] J. Kassim, 2006. Properties ofParticleboard and ThermoplasticBoard from Buloh Semantan (Gigantochloa scortechinii),University Publication Centre (UPENA), Universiti TeknologiMARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Malaysia.

[7] S.A. Bahari, M. Ahmad and M.A.Jamaludin, 2008. Characterizationon Bending Bending Strength of Binderless Bamboo Fibreboard(BBF). Proceeding, 9th Pacific Rim Bio-Based CompositesSymposium 2008. CSIRO and SCION, New Zealand. pp. 238-246.

[8] B. Ndazi, J.V. Tesha and S. Karlsson, 2006. Production of ricehusks composites with Acacia Mimosa Tannin-based Resin, JournalofMaterial Science, vol. 41, pp. 6978-6983.

[9] British Standard BS EN 310: 1993. Wood-Based Panels ­Determination ofElasticity in Bending and ofBending Strength,London, U.K: British Standard Institution.

[10] British Standard BS EN 317: 1993. Particleboards andFiberboards - Determination of Swelling in Thickness afterImmersion in Water, London, U.K: British Standard Institution.

30