Improving the Properties of Commercial Phenolic-Bonded, Structural-Type Particleboards By Oil Tempering

The purpose of this study was to determine if properties of phenolic-bonded particleboards could be improved by oil tempering. Three phenolic-bonded particleboard. of 37, 44, and 51 pcf densities were selected for the study; board one was made from large flakes, and boards 2 and 3 were made from planer shavings. Specimens of each board were assigned randomly to four treatments–10 percent tempering oil, 5 percent tempering oil, post heating, and no treatment. Oil tempering significantly reduced irreversible thickness swelling and the loss of MOR, ME, and internal bond strength of all boards subjected to the ASTM accelerated aging test. Ten percent tempering oil was usually more effective than five percent oil, but five percent oil also improved the board’s performance. Tempering oil improved the strength properties of the controls (treated boards not subjected to cyclic testing). Linear swelling following a vacuum pressure soak cycle test was increased for two of the oil-treated boards, but decreased for the third. Post-heating at 300? F for 3 hours had little beneficial effect; however, this treatment was not the optimum time and temperature (2 hours at 425? F) suggested by Suchsland and Enlow. The cost of tempering oil varies; however, based upon July 1973 prices, the cost of a 5 percent treatment of a 45 pcf board would be about $7.00 per Mft2 of a 5/8 inch board.

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