ALTERNATIVE COMPOSITIONS OF ORIENTED STRAND BOARDS (OSB) MADE WITH COMMERCIAL WOODS PRODUCED IN BRAZIL (AOP PAPER)

This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of using and mixing Toona ciliata, Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis and Pinus oocarpa woods in OSB production. Three one-species and four mixed-species combinations were compared. Layer structure varied by positioning different wood species in the surface and core of the panels. Phenol-formaldehyde (PF) adhesive was applied at 9% for all OSB panels. Three-layer mats with mass proportion of 25/50/25% for surface/core/surface were produced. Pressing time was 8 min, under a 4 MPa pressure and temperature of 180 ˚C. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated and compared to EN (300) commercialization standard. Most OSB panels did not fully attain such requirements. OSB panels made with Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis and Pinus oocarpa woods have potential to be commercialized as OSB/1 and OSB/2 types, respectively. Among panels made with T. ciliata wood, those produced with this species in the surface and Eucalyptus urophylla/grandis wood in the core met the requirements established for OSB/1 commercialization. Eucalyptus wood has great potential to substitute Pinus wood in OSB production. The utilization of T. ciliata wood for OSB production decreased mechanical performance, but remarkably enhanced water resistance properties.