European hardwoods for reducing dependence on pine for oriented strand board

Abstract

Physical and mechanical properties of OSB made with mixture of beech and poplar strands were compared to boards made purely of beech, poplar and pine at 650 and 720 kg m⁻³. The mixed beech and poplar strand boards showed better properties in bending strength and IB compared to pure panels. In addition, MOR and MOE were found to reach values two times higher than the levels as specified in EN300 the standard at a density of 720 kg m⁻³. Thickness Swelling (TS) after 24 h for panels of mixed beech and poplar strands were 13%, which is around 35% less than EN300 allows.

Keywords:

• OSB
• European beech and poplar strands
• Physical and mechanical properties

Acknowledgements

This research was strongly supported by Dr J. Welling of Tünnen Institute Hamburg, Dr H. Roll of Pallmann Zweibrücken and Mr D. Müller of Kronoply, Heiligengrabe (Germany) and Dr J. Strobans of Huntsman Evergren (Belgium).