Incorporation of Grevillea robusta in the Production of Particleboards of Pinus

ABSTRACT Studies on the potential use of alternative fast growing species are of great importance, in order to increase the supply of raw material for forest based industries, especially for particleboard factories. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of use of the Grevillea robusta in mixture with Pinus taeda for the particleboards production, as well as, to establish the maximum amount of incorporation of this species in the industrial process. The panels were produced with the species without mixtures and in different proportions of the replacement of the Pinus by Grevillea wood, with a nominal density of 0.70 g/cm3 and urea-formaldehyde resin (8%). The results showed that treatment with 20% Grevillea robusta and 80% of Pinus taeda meet the minimum requirements of the mechanical properties according to EN 312 (and a control) and the maximum replacement of Pinus by Grevillea robusta wood is 26%.