Selected Physical Properties of Eucalyptus and Pine Veneered Plywood from Mufindi, Iringa, Tanzania

Deforestation and the increasing demand for sustainable wood alternatives have promoted the use of plywood for structural applications in Tanzania; however, little is known about how veneer species affect its performance. This study compared eucalyptus and pine veneered plywood panels bonded with phenol formaldehyde resin. Water absorption, swelling, shrinkage, and density were measured according to European Norm (EN) standards. Eucalyptus plywood performed better across all tests. It showed lower water absorption (86.18% compared with 116.44%) and thickness swelling (1.86% compared with 3.34%). Dimensional changes were also smaller, with shrinkage of 0.72% in length, 0.68% in width, and 4.63% in thickness, whereas pine exhibited larger values. Eucalyptus had a higher density (633.2 kg/m³) than pine (569.6 kg/m³), enhancing its dimensional stability. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Overall, eucalyptus-veneered panels demonstrated superior moisture resistance and stability, suggesting greater suitability for structural plywood in humid environments.