Improved Properties of Particleboards Produced with Urea Formaldehyde Adhesive Containing Nanofibrillated Cellulose and Titanium Dioxide

Abstract

Urea-formaldehyde is one of the commonly used resin types in the particleboard industry. In this study, the effect of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) addition in the formulation of the urea formaldehyde resin on the physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of particleboard samples was investigated. The NFC (0.5% and 1%) and TiO₂ (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) were added to the 10% adhesive formulation. Two different pressure times, 4 and 8 min, were applied during the production of samples. Subsequently, the water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), internal bonding strength (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and statistical analysis of test samples were determined. The thickness swelling values ranged from 19.9% to 34.9% and WA values were from 74.50% to 110.6%. However, the maximum MOR, MOE, and IB values were 22.2 MPa, 2570 MPa, and 1.1 MPa, respectively.