SUITABILITY OF RAJ KOROI (Albizia richardiana) AS A RAW MATERIAL FOR PARTICLEBOARD MANUFACTURING

This paper summarizes the results of a research aimed at assessing the uses of Raj koroi (Albizia richardiana) as an alternative source of raw material for particleboard manufacturing. The suitability and quality between Raj koroi (Albizia richardiana) and mixed wood particleboard were assessed. The feasibility of commercial production particleboard from raj koroi using urea formaldehyde adhesive as an alternate raw material was evaluated for its physical and mechanical properties as compared with those of mixed wood particleboard i.e. mixture of Pitali (Trewia nudiflora), Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis) and Chatian (Alstonia scholaris). The density (677 kg/m³ for raj koroi and 653 kg/m³ for mixed wood particleboard), modulus of rupture (210 kg/cm² for raj koroi and 200 kg/cm² for mixed wood particleboard) and modulus of elasticity (28,236 kg/cm² for raj koroi and 25,120 kg/cm² for mixed wood particleboard) of raj koroi particleboard were superior than mixed wood particleboard. Screw holding capacity in edge was higher in raj koroi particleboard than mixed wood particleboard (97.5 kg for raj koroi and 90.5 kg for mixed wood particleboard). The moisture content after curing was lower in raj koroi particleboard than that of presently used mixed wood particleboard (6.72% for raj koroi and 8.45% for mixed wood particleboard). Soaking of water was lower in raj koroi particleboard than that of mixed wood particleboard after 2 and 24 hours (21.27% and 48.35% for raj koroi and 25.46% and 65.54% for mixed wood particleboard). The physical and mechanical properties of particleboard manufactured from raj koroi is superior to that of existing market availability particleboard.