USE OF FIVE Eucalyptus species FOR PARTICLEBOARDS MANUFACTURE1

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of the use of five Eucalyptus species, originating from plantations with short rotation cycle, for particleboards manufacture. The following species have been studied: Eucalyptus benthamii, Eucalyptus dunni, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus urograndis, their mixture and Pinustaeda as a control. 21 wood particleboard have been produced, with nominal density of 0.65 g/cm³, totaling 7 treatments. For the bonding, urea-formaldehyde resin was used, in the proportion of 8% of solids dry weight base of the particles, 2% of catalyst ammonium sulphate on weight of resin and 1% of paraffin. The Eucalyptus particleboards showed lower values of WA2h and WA24h than the particleboards produced with Pinus taeda. The particleboards composed Mix of species exhibited high dimensional stability similar to those produced with the pure Eucalyptus species. E. grandis showed values statistically higher of mechanical resistance (MOR and MOE) to those obtained by the other species studied, as well as, the Eucalyptus species were higher than the control species. In internal bond the particleboards produced with E. grandis was among the highest results of internal bond, being statistically similar to E. saligna. The species Mix particleboards exhibited proprieties in general similar to those produced with the pure Eucalyptus species. All species as well as the mix among them showed technical feasibility for particleboard manufacture. RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade técnica da utilização de cinco espécies de Eucalyptus, provenientes de plantios com ciclo de curta rotação, para produção painéis aglomerados. Foram estudadas as espécies: Eucalyptus benthamii, Eucalyptus dunni, Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus urograndis, a mistura entre elas e o Pinus taeda como testemunha. Foram produzidos 21 painéis aglomerados, com massa específica nominal de 0,65 g/cm³, totalizando em 7 tratamentos. Para a colagem utilizou-se a resina ureia-formaldeído, na proporção de 8% de sólidos base peso seco das partículas, 2% de catalisador sulfato de amônio sobre peso da resina e 1% de parafina. Os painéis de Eucalyptus apresentaram menores valores de AA2h e AA24h do que os painéis produzidos com Pinus taeda. Os painéis compostos pelo Mix de espécies apresentaram estabilidade dimensional semelhante aos produzidos com as espécies de Eucalyptus puras. O E. grandis apresent