Particleboards with Recycled Material from Hemp-Based Panels

Electra Papadopoulou; Iouliana Chrysafi; Konstantina Karidi; Andromachi Mitani; Dimitrios N Bikiaris

doi:10.3390/ma17010139

Particleboards with Recycled Material from Hemp-Based Panels

Materials (Basel). 2023 Dec 27;17(1):139. doi: 10.3390/ma17010139.

Authors

Electra Papadopoulou¹, Iouliana Chrysafi², Konstantina Karidi¹, Andromachi Mitani³, Dimitrios N Bikiaris⁴

Affiliations

¹ CHIMAR HELLAS S.A., 15 Km National Road, Thessaloniki-Polygyros, 570 01 Thermi, Greece.
² Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Devices, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ Department of Forestry, Wood Sciences and Design, University of Thessaly, V. Griva nr.11, 431 00 Karditsa, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Polymer and Colors Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

This research addresses the current need for sustainable solutions in the construction and furniture industries, with a focus on environmentally friendly particleboard. Particleboards were made from a mixture of virgin wood chips and hemp shives, which were then mechanically recycled and used to make new lightweight particleboards. Phenol-formaldehyde resin with 25% w/w phenol replacement by soybean flour (PFS) was used as the binder for the lignocellulosic materials. Laboratory analyses determined the resin properties, and FTIR confirmed the structure of the experimental PFS resin. The thermal properties of all the resins were evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The panels were manufactured using industrial simulation and tested for mechanical and physical properties in accordance with European standards. The FTIR study confirmed good adhesion, and the TGA showed improved thermal stability for the recycled biomass panels compared to virgin biomass panels. The study concludes that lightweight particleboards can be successfully produced from recycled hemp shive-based panels, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional materials in the construction industry.

Keywords: circular economy; hemp shives; particleboards; recycling; soy flour; thermal degradation; wood chips.

Grants and funding

This research has been co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation” (EPAnEK 2014–2020) under the call “RESEARCH-CREATE-INNOVATE” (project code: Τ2ΕDΚ–00008).