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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Cotton Ginning Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #387965
Research Project: Development and Evaluation of Novel Technologies to Improve Fiber Quality and Increase Profitability in Cotton Processing

Location: Cotton Ginning Research

Title: Acoustic and strength characterization of particleboard and micronized rubber powder composites

Author
item COLE, JOHN - University Of Tennessee
item STREET, JASON - Mississippi State University
item Blake, Cody

Submitted to: Forest Products Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/13/2021
Publication Date: 2/17/2022
Citation: Cole, J.T., Street, J.T., Blake, C.D. 2022. Acoustic and strength characterization of particleboard and micronized rubber powder composites. Forest Products Society. 72(1):37–43. https://doi.org/10.13073/FPJ-D-21-00059.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.13073/FPJ-D-21-00059

Interpretive Summary: A research test to examine the use of micronized rubber powder as an additive to pine particleboard for sounds absorption. There were four treatments of varying amounts and a control to be tested. The results concluded a decrease modulus of elasticity, no significant difference in modulus of rupture, and a statistical decrease in sound absorption.

Technical Abstract: Waste rubber is abundant worldwide and threatens to be an environmental hazard for decades to come. This has led to an interest in the use of recycled rubber materials in value-added products. One possible use is in the wood products industry. The research analyzed the strength and acoustic properties of composite pine particleboard that contained 10, 20, 30, and 40% micronized rubber powder, a dry powdered elastomeric crumb rubber, by weight. Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate was used as the bonding adhesive to produce five particleboard samples, including a control board. Test samples were cut from the five parent boards for use in strength and acoustic testing. Measured displacement values for a simply loaded and simply supported load scenario were used to calculate the modulus of rupture and apparent modulus of elasticity for each composite particleboard. Acoustic measurement by impedance tube provided comparisons of the sound absorption coefficient for frequencies ranging from 60 to 6,300 Hz. Results revealed that the addition of micronized rubber powder led to a decrease in modulus of elasticity and no significant difference in modulus of rupture values as compared to the control. Statistical analysis indicated a decrease in sound absorption in particleboard that contained micronized rubber powder when compared to the control.