The increase in activities in the wood-based industries has contributed greatly to deforestation, and this has consequently led to the development of new materials to substitute for the felling of trees. In this study, red Ironwood (Lophira alata) chips and cassava starch were used for the production of particleboard. Chip sizes of 0.85 and 1.7 mm and the dosage and types of binders (cassava starch, urea formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde-modified cassava starch) were the variables. The ratio of wood chips to the binders was 1.0:1.5. The boards were formed in rectangular moulds. Water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural tests, and material characterisation (scanning electron microscopy) were performed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance. The panels produced with modified cassava starch had the best mechanical properties with the modulus of elasticity ranging from 5.9 to 32.3 N/mm2 but had a higher thickness swelling values ranging from 3 to 59.4%. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) between the boards manufactured using plain starch and modified starch. These results showed that modified cassava starch is a better binding agent than plain cassava starch in terms of panel MOR and MOE. The developed particleboard can be used for indoor paneling, partitioning, and ceilings.

Global warming primarily due to deforestation has led to the development of new materials to substitute felling of trees by wood-based industries. The utilisation of wood chips and cassava starch for the production of particle board was the thrust of this research. The chip sizes of 0.85 and 1.7 mm, dosage and types of binders (cassava starch, urea formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde modified cassava starch) were the variables. The ratio of wood chips to the binders was 1.0:1.5. Theboards were formed in rectangular moulds. Water absorption, thickness swelling, flexural tests and material characterisation (using scanning electron microscope (SEM)) were carried out. Data collected was subjected to analysis of variance. The result obtained was subjected to analysis of variance. The particleboards produced with modified cassava starch had the best mechanical properties with the modulus of elasticity (MOE) ranging from 5.90 to 32.32 N/mm2but had a higher thickness swelling values ranging from 3 to 59.37%. There was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the boards manufactured using plain starch and modified starch. These tests results have shown that wood chips, plain cassava starch and modified cassava starch are sources of raw materials in the production of particleboard. The developed particleboard can be used for paneling, partitioning and ceilings. Keywords: SEM, flexural, global warming, starch,