Innovation in cement bonded particleboard industry; determination of the effects of plastic cement bonded particleboard production on some physical and mechanical properties

The aim of this thesis is to develop plastic cement bonded particleboards (PCP) with a target density (d) of 1.30 g/cm3. For this purpose, a study pattern was created from different ratios of Expandable Polystyrene (EPS) raw material plastic and Polypropylene (PP), Polyester (PYS), Glass Fiber (GF), Polyurethane (PU) waste plastic substitutes instead of Red Pine. Cement bonded particleboards were produced under laboratory conditions and some physical and mechanical properties were determined by experimental studies in accordance with the standards. Experimental results were analyzed by IBM SPSS-2023, multiple analysis of variance (ANOVA) and DUNCAN statistical programs. According to the statistics, all experimental groups with %10-15-20 mixture ratio and %25PYS and PU experimental group particleboards met TS EN 634-2 standards. The lowest Water Absorption (WA), Thickness Swelling (TS), Moisture Content (MC) values were obtained from %25EPS experimental group with %6.49-0.53-6.03 and the lowest thermal conductivity value (TC) was 0.167 W/m°K from %25PU experimental group, the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) were obtained from %15PYS experimental group with 11.22-7813 N/mm2, the highest screw holding strength (SHS) was obtained from %15EPS experimental group with 1451 N. The effects of the structural properties of the plastics and their varying distribution in the matrix according to the mixture ratios on the mechanical bonding mechanisms were examined from the cross-sectional and surface SEM images of the plates and the evaluations made were found to support the experimental results. In general, the results of thesis study showed plastic cement bonded particleboards that meet TS EN 634-2 standards can be produced, the use of waste PP, PYS, GF, PU plastics in production will provide environmental benefits, the raw material EPS offers superior performance in waterproofing and PU in thermal insulation.