Abstract

• This work is mainly concerned with the preparation of particleboards from sawdust (SD). Cement (C) as used as binder. The physicochemical properties and characterization of sawdust and cement were also conducted. Six types of particleboards were prepared by mixing various proportions of sawdust (50 %, 40 %, 33.33 %, 28.57 %, 25 %, 22.22 %) and various proportions of cement (50 %, 60 %, 66.66 %, 71.43 %, 75 %, 77.78 %) and a chemical additive CaCl2. The additive was based on 2 % by weight of cement used. Particleboards were prepared by cold compressing molding method. The prepared particleboards (SDC) were characterized according to physicochemical and physicomechanical parameters such as modulus of rupture, thickness, density, water absorption, swelling thickness and hardness. From the results, it was found that particleboard namely SDC 5 containing (25 % of sawdust, 75 % of cement and 1.5 % of CaCl2) was a quality grade particleboard. It has 2058.34 psi modulus of rupture, 0.65 cm thickness, 1.2320 g cm-3 density, 13.05 % water absorption, 17.14 % swelling thickness and 98 D hardness. The SDC 5 particleboard, based on water absorption, modulus of rupture and hardness values, indicates that it was the best among all particleboards studied. The surface morphology of SDC 5 was studied by SEM and the thermal stability of particleboard was studied by TG-DTA.