Effects of Guayule Resin on Structural Performance and Durability of Wood Strand-Based Composites

Authors

  • Edward D. Entsminger Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • Mostafa Mohammadabadi Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA
  • C. Elizabeth Stokes Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, Forest and Wildlife Research Center (FWRC), College of Forest Resources (CFR), Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762-9820 USA

Keywords:

Internal bond, Water absorption and thickness swelling, Tensile, Decay resistance, Wood strand-based panels, Guayule resin

Abstract

Effects of guayule resin on mechanical, physical, and biological performance of wood strand-based panels were evaluated. Southern yellow pine (Pinus spp. L) wood strands were mixed with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin to a target resin content of 5% and hot-pressed to manufacture wood strand-based panels. A guayule resin solution was prepared and sprayed on the wood strands immediately after PF resin to different guayule resin contents of 0.5% and 1.0%. Specimens cut from treated panels and control panels were subjected to tensile, internal bond, water absorption and thickness swelling, and fungi soil block tests. Guayule resin had a positive effect on tensile strength, as specimens showed 8.0% and 9.5% increase compared to control specimens. However, the internal bond strength decreased 5.3% and 6.4%, respectively. Water absorption and thickness swelling for the treated specimens with guayule resin decreased as compared to control specimens. The fungal decay resistance test indicated little differences in the average percent mass loss across the untreated and treated wood strand-based composite materials. Regardless of increase or decrease, the effects of guayule resin on mechanical, physical, and biological performances of wood strand-based panels were not statistically significant.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-21

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 3 (2023)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication