Use of Populus deltoides wood in the Production of MDP and HDP

Abstract The aimed to evaluate the properties of MDP and HDP panels, produced with pure Populus deltoides or in a mixture with Pinus taeda, together with urea-formaldehyde resin. The density and chemical properties of this wood with 8 and 12 years of age were determined, which were used for the production of panels with nominal density of 0.65 and 0.90 g.cm-3. Water absorption and thickness swelling tests were performed after 2 and 24 hours of immersion, as well as static bending and perpendicular tensile. Populus deltoides wood was classified as low-density in both ages and presented chemical properties similar to Pinus taeda. Mechanical properties obtained for the panels produced reached the minimum requirements values established by the standards NBR 14810-2 and ANSI A208.1, demonstrating the potential use of wood species for the production of MDP and HDP panels, at both ages studied and used pure or mixed with Pinus taeda wood.