Selected Physical and Mechanical Properties of Particleboards Manufactured from Plantation Willow and Poplar Wood

This research focuses on producing particleboards from the biomass of plantation willow (<i>Salix viminalis</i> L.) and poplar (<i>Populus</i> spp.), aiming to explore their feasibility as sustainable materials for various applications. Fast-growing willow and poplar are known for their rapid growth and suitability for energy production. They present an intriguing alternative as raw materials with added value for particleboard manufacturing. This study investigates the selected mechanical and physical properties of the produced particleboards, considering parameters such as density profile, bending strength, modulus of elasticity, internal bond, water absorption, thickness swelling, and screw withdrawal resistance. The research results were also compared between different mass shares of willow and poplar particles in the particleboards. The results show that the panels produced entirely from the tested alternative raw materials had a modulus of rupture of 21.7 N mm^-2 compared to 14.6 N mm^-2 for the reference panels, with an internal bond of about 2.02 N mm^-2 compared to 0.65 N mm^-2 for the reference panels. The thickness swelling after 24 h of soaking was about 24.2% compared to 42.2% for reference panels. The findings underscore the promising potential of willow and poplar-based particleboards as eco-friendly alternatives in the construction and furniture industries, contributing to resource efficiency and carbon emission reduction efforts.