Quality of Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) Cored Particleboard by Using Recycled Polypropylene

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Scarcity of raw materials for particleboard industry was occurred which is caused by the lack of wood supply that up till now comes from production functioned natural forest or planted forest. Wood supply from those areas has been decreased which is caused by less sustainable harvesting system and increasing of wood demands. Those conditions courage the ideas to find other ligno-cellulosed materials to replace wood; one of them are by using kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) core. Kenaf plant has been researched as substitute for particleboard raw material which composited by using formaldehyde adhesive (Puspita 2004; Susanta 2004; Ronaldi 2004). Utilization of formaldehyde adhesive has been appreciably produce negative impact to environment. To decrease negative impact from formaldehyde utilization, adhesive, which is used, could originate from plastic waste such as polypropylene which appreciable more eco-friendly, has high potential to be used, and produce better product dimensional stability. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Particleboard was made by mix kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) powder with polypropylene plastic. Mixture of those two materials consists of some kenaf powder/polypropylene mixture composition; those are 50:50, 40:60 and 30:70. Examined physical characters are density, moisture content, water absorption rate and thickness swelling rate. Examined mechanical characters are MOE, MOR, and screw holding power. RESULTS : From research results, utilization of kenaf powder/polypropylene mixture composition from 50:50 to 30:70 for particleboard production produce density, MOE, MOR and screw holding power with similar values. But, for physical character such as moisture content, water absorption rate and thickness swelling has different value, where the best kenaf powder/polypropylene mixture composition are 40:60 and 30:70.