Selected Physical and Mechanical Properties of Medium Density Fibreboard Composite Produced from Waste Paper and Sawdust

Waste paper and sawdust poses huge problems as degrading urban environment, producing offensive odor during rain and pollute the air with smoke when burnt indiscriminately, thus contributing to environmental degradation and global warming. In addition, if not timely disposed, becomes breeding places for worms and insects. There is therefore need for its proper utilization. This study aims to determining selected physical and mechanical properties of medium density fibreboard produced from waste paper and sawdust. Heterogeneous wood sawdust from logs and waste papers were purchased, hence board formation was done with respect to density and blending proportion after which it was prepared for testing. The mean water absorption and thickness swelling were 87.83±8.51% and 28.61±5.28% for the 850kg/m3 density board, while 84.09±8.21 and 28.03±4.05 were obtained for the 1000kg/m3 density board. Meanwhile, 1.32±0.14 and 15.95±5.05 N/mm2 were obtained for Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) for 850kg/m3 density board while 1.35±0.14 and 19.04±5.05 N/mm2 for 1000kg/m3 respectively. Density of boards formed was not found to significantly affect the selected physical and mechanical properties whereas blending proportion does. However, board density of 1000kg/m3 with blending proportion of 0/100 was most dimensionally stable.