Abstract:
Conventional methods of making particleboards utilize wood chips. +is has resulted in a decrease in the tree cover due to the
increase in wood demand. +e effect has been climatic change. Wood is bound using phenol formaldehyde resin. Because of the
decrease in the forest cover, alternative lignocellulose materials are required. In this study, lignocellulose materials used include
sugarcane bagasse, maize stock, and rice husks. +e cassava-starch mix with borax was used as a binder in particleboard formulation.
+e lignin content was determined, and its effect on properties of boards was investigated. +e resultant composite material was
molded at a pressure of 6.5N/mm2 and at 30°C. +e resultant particleboards had mean densities ranging from 0.604 to 0.611 g/cm3.
+e modulus of elasticity ranged from 2364.2N/mm2 to 3329.93N/mm2, modulus of rupture ranged from 13.55N/mm2 to 14.83 N/
mm2, and internal bonding ranged from 1.613N/mm2 to 2.370N/mm2. +e performance of the board was dependent on the
lignocellulose material used. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that main chemical bonding in the particleboard
resulted from esterification of –COOHfrom lignocellulose and OH- from starch.+e particleboards formulated were found
to be of low-density-fibre standard used in a similar manner to the conventional low-density particleboards
