INFLUENCE OF PARAFFIN ON MDF PROPERTIES AT INDUSTRIAL SCALE

In this study, the effect of paraffin addition on the modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bond (IB), water absorption (WA), and thickness swelling (TS) properties of fiberboard by density variations was evaluated. Higher mechanical properties were calculated for the paraffin-free board. MOR and MOE of the boards decreased with the increase in density, but not linearly; indeed, fluctuations were observed. Conversely, IB values were increased with the increase in density. The adverse effect of paraffin on the mechanical properties was almost eliminated with the increase in density, particularly for the 750 kg/m³ density profile, except for IB. The WA performance of the boards was significantly increased (58.8%) with the increase in density. Furthermore, advances with the density increase were uplifted by paraffin addition. However, when water repellency properties and advances in WA were taken into consideration, paraffin addition caused the opposite behavior for TS, but around 5.1% decrease in TS was achieved for the 750 kg/m³ density profile.