The Influence of Multiple Mechanical Recycling of Particleboards on Their Selected Mechanical and Physical Properties

Abstract

This is a bridge between circular economy issues and wood-based panels technology, especially particleboards. Because these composites contain a significant amount of non-wood raw material (10–12% thermoset resin, high hardness laminates, among others), their mechanical recycling leads to an uncontrollable reduction in produced particle size. This problem can be especially significant since the particleboards can be intended for multiple recycling due to the shortening of their service life. This research aimed to produce particles in the cycle of multiple re-milling particleboards and evaluate the selected properties of the produced particles and particleboards. Thus, the response to the following scientific problem can be given: what factors qualitatively and quantitatively influence the properties of the particleboards produced by multi-re-milled particles? The novelty of this research is the approach to recycling the raw materials from particleboards in fully controlled conditions, providing the characterization of produced particles and producing particleboards with close-to-industrial parameters, and, finally, evaluating the features of produced particleboards in the light of raw materials used. The results confirmed that subsequent mechanical recycling of particleboards, where the other panels are made entirely of second-milling particles, leads to an unprofitable and unacceptable reduction in the mechanical properties of the panels. The physical parameters, such as thickness swelling and water absorption, are improved, but this can be the result of increased content of chemical ingredients, which negatively influence the hygienic features of panels (emission of formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds—TVOC). Further research should be directed towards estimating the optimal addition of mechanically recycled particles to particleboard production.

Particleboards with Recycled Material from Hemp-Based Panels

“…As a result, the new board will have lower performance in all properties. These results are in line with the findings of other studies [ 18 ].…”

“…The recycling of particleboard with wood chips is a topic that has been studied by various scientists. New recycled wood-based panels have been produced on a laboratory scale, and their properties have been studied [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, no literature references were found on the recycling of panels based on hemp shives, such as those produced in the present study.…”

Upcycling of Wood Dust from Particleboard Recycling as a Filler in Lignocellulosic Layered Composite Technology

“…The size of the dust particles remained lower than 0.125 mm, and the bulk density equaled about 270 kg m −3 . The entire procedure and characteristics have been described in [39]. Other studies have confirmed that processing a wood composite made from already fragmented wood contributes to the formation of smaller fractions compared to the processing of solid wood [40].…”

Properties and Emissions of Three-Layer Particleboards Manufactured with Mixtures of Wood Chips and Partially Liquefied Bark

“…The global production of particleboard increased by 61.7% from 64.3 million m 3 in 2000 to 104 million m 3 in 2021, and the growth is expected to continue rising [4]. A large variety of lignocellulose-based resources serve as raw materials, such as wood, natural fibers, forest-based and agro-industrial side-streams and residues, and recycled wood [5][6][7]. Research on particleboards is now focused on finding homogenous non-wood feedstock and bio-based adhesives with low environmental impact [1].…”