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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250765
Title: Bio-based composition boards made from cotton stalks and guayule wastes

Author
item Holt, Gregory
item CHOW, POO - University Of Illinois
item Coffelt, Terry
item Nakayama, Francis

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2010
Publication Date: 3/29/2010
Citation: Holt, G.A., Chow, P., Coffelt, T.A., Nakayama, F.S. 2010. Bio-based composition boards made from cotton stalks and guayule wastes [abstract]. International Wood Composites Symposium, March 29-31, 2010, Seattle, WA. 2010 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This study investigated important physical and mechanical properties of composition boards made from processed cotton stalks (PCS) and guayule bagasse (GB) waste. The composition boards evaluated were 1.1 cm thick medium-density boards made from five different ratios of PCS to GB: 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100. Board composition was homogenous with no orientation of fibers in the boards. A 3-layered board was also evaluated. The 3-layered board consisted of sandwiching the processed cotton stalks (50%) between an upper and bottom layer of guayule bagasse (25%). Boards with processed cotton stalk to guayule bagasse ratios of 100:0, 25:75, 50:50, 25:75, and 50:50 (3-layered) produced modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity in bending values comparable to many grades of the commercial particleboard, medium-density-fiberboard (MDF), and hardboard. All experimental composition boards produced good internal bond (IB) values. In the 24-hour water-soak test, the 3-layered PCS and GB board, the 100% GB board, and the 25 (PCS):75(GB) produced average thickness swelling values of less than 10%. Large quantities of cotton stalks are being produced annually and left unharvested in the field. Similarly, guayule wastes after rubber latex production is expected to increase as this industry begins to expand. Guayule bagasse is also desirable since it has been shown to have termite control properties. Use of PCS and GB into value-added board products can help the economics of row-crop producers, and aid in alleviating biomass waste accumulation and the subsequent environmental problems resulting from accumulation of these waste materials.