Oriented Strand Board panels of residual reforestation wood with Al2O3 nanoparticles

The application of metal oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3) in Oriented Strand Board (OSB) panels has been studied as a way to provide greater efficiency in heat transfer rate during the thermopressing process, thus contributing to the polymerization process of the resin used in particle agglomeration. Studies on the subject, however, are still scarce and require further study in order to optimize the production process of OSB panels. Therefore, this study evaluated medium density OSB panels (650 kg/m3) of reforestation residual wood shaped with 13% castor oil-based polyurethane resin with 1% of commercially sourced Al2O3 nanoparticles and manufactured in the laboratory via the proteic sol-gel method. Microstructural analysis of the nanoparticles was performed to verify their dispersion within the resin; qualitative analysis of nanoparticles was performed with X-ray diffraction (XRD); and analysis by High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) was performed to study commercially sourced and laboratory-produced nanoparticles. After analyzing the results, the panels were produced with commercial aluminum oxide nanoparticles and characterized by physical (thickness swelling) and mechanical (static bending and perpendicular traction) tests, according to current normative documents. The results indicated that commercial aluminum oxide nanoparticles provided better performance in microstructural and qualitative analysis, in addition to provide a better efficiency in the resin curing stage, causing an increase in the values of physical-mechanical properties in the transverse direction for the modulus of rupture (69.15%) and internal bond of the wood particles (53.57%). •Heat transfer and resin polymerization are important for OSB panels production.•Nanoparticulate materials allow the optimization of the production of OSB panels.•Qualitative tests must be performed on alumina nanoparticles.•Commercial alumina nanoparticles showed potential for application in OSB panels.•Mechanical properties and internal bond of the wood particles were increased.