IJASEIT

International Journal on Advanced Science, Engineering and Information Technology, Vol. 10 (2020) No. 3, pages: 1221-1227, DOI:10.18517/ijaseit.10.3.8687

Particle Size Effect on Mechanical and Physical Properties of Rice Straw Epoxy Resin Particleboard

I Ismail, Quratul Aini, - Zulfalina, Zulkarnain Jalil, Siti Hajar Sheikh Md Fadzullah

Abstract

Rice straw is one of the agricultural residues that can be used to form a composite such as particleboard. In this study, the effect of rice straw particle size on the mechanical and physical properties of rice straw epoxy resin particleboard has been investigated. The rice straw particles sizes were varied for 40 mesh, 50 mesh, and 60 mesh. The ratio of rice straw to epoxy resin was also varied for 80 : 20 vol.%, 85 : 15 vol.%, 90 : 10 vol.%, and 95 : 5 vol.%. Our results revealed that the mechanical properties (modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and tensile strength) of particleboard strongly depend on the rice straw particle size. This behavior is the same for the physical properties (density and water absorption) of particleboard. The highest flexural strength (modulus of rupture), elastic modulus, and tensile strength of rice straw epoxy resin particleboard are obtained at the 50 mesh of rice straw particle size with its value of 6.15 kgf/mm², 3280 kgf/mm², and 0.60 kgf/mm2, respectively. However, the highest density is obtained at the 60 mesh of rice straw particle size, which is 0.87 g/cm³. The lowest water absorption (23%) is also obtained at the 60 mesh of rice straw particle size. Our finding indicates that the particle size plays a vital role in the reinforcement of particleboard.