Particles panels prepared from dendê mesocarp as an alternative to MDF used in civil construction

ABSTRACT The lack of forest resources integrated with the need of purchasing more environmentally friendly products requires the use of other types of biomass besides wood in the construction sector. Therefore, the dendê mesocarp - waste arising from the agro-industry and with great use potential in developing new materials - is an alternative in the preparation of lignocellulosic panels to replace MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), that is conventionally used. Thus, this work demonstrated the feasibility of the production and the structural integrity of this type of panel in the manufacture of building blocks to be used in civil construction through a comparative study of their properties with the MDF panels. The methodology consists in performing characterization tests in panels through determining their physical (water absorption, swelling and density) and mechanical (flexion resistance and modulus of elasticity) properties, besides analysing the morphology of the panels produced by the Scanning Electron Microscopy (MEV) technique, performing a chemical (via infrared spectrum Fourier transform) and thermal analysis through derived thermogravimetric curves. The results obtained suggest that the production of these panels without a binder, obtained by the incorporation of dendê mesocarp, adds value to the production chain of dendê, in addition to emerge as an alternative to the challenges inherent to the traditional production of wood panels and, consequently, is considered as an option of a constructive element to be integrated with the construction.

摘要 森林资源匮乏，加之市场对更环保产品的需求日益提升，使得建筑行业不得不采用木材以外的其他生物质原料。棕榈果中果皮（dendê mesocarp）作为农工业产生的废弃物，在开发新型材料领域具备极高应用潜力，可作为制备木质纤维素面板的替代原料，以替代常规使用的中密度纤维板（Medium Density Fiberboard，MDF）。为此，本研究通过将此类面板与MDF面板进行性能对比，验证了其用于生产民用建筑构件的可行性与结构完整性。本研究的方法包括对制备的面板开展性能表征测试：测定其物理性能（吸水率、膨胀率与密度）与力学性能（抗折强度与弹性模量）；此外，通过扫描电子显微镜（Scanning Electron Microscopy，MEV）技术分析面板的微观形貌，采用傅里叶变换红外光谱法开展化学分析，并结合热重衍生曲线完成热分析。研究结果表明，通过掺入棕榈果中果皮制备的无胶面板，不仅可为棕榈果加工产业链增加附加值，还可应对传统木质面板生产的固有挑战，因此该类面板可作为一种建筑构件备选方案，用于建筑集成应用。