Abstract
Sugarcane bagasse can be used in the manufacture of panels for the furniture industry, but has a high water absorption compared to wood panels. Thus, this raw material needs heat treatment to reduce the hygroscopicity of the panels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of heat treatment temperature on the particleboard properties made from sugarcane bagasse. The experiment consisted of four treatments, being evaluated three temperatures heat treatment of sugarcane bagasse (170, 200 and 230 °C) and without thermal modification treatment (Control). The particles were evaluated for their anatomical, chemical and physical characteristics. The panels were produced with nominal density of 0.70 g/cm3, relation face/core of 40:60, 11% urea–formaldehyde adhesive to the faces and 7% of adhesive to the core, pressing cycle of 160 °C temperature, pressure 3.94 MPa and for a period of 8 min. The panels were evaluated for its physical properties density, compression ratio, moisture, water absorption and thickness swelling after 2 and 24 h of immersion; their mechanical properties internal bond and modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity at bending. The heat treatment of the bagasse particles at 230 °C promoted significant improvements in the quality of particleboard, resulting in decreased of the water absorption and thickness swelling values of the panels and increase in modulus of elasticity values, and allowing meet marketing standards regarding the thickness swelling after 24 h of immersion in water. Which demonstrates the great potential of using the heat treatment temperature of 230 °C for the production of particleboard with sugarcane bagasse.