PETALS: OPTIMIZATION AND ANALYSIS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTY IN PARTICLEBOARD MADE FROM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES OF OIL PALM

Abstract

Empty fruit bunches of oil palm (EFB) are abundant biomass waste from the palm oil industry and hold significant potential as an alternative raw material for particleboard. This study aims to examine the potential of EFB as a substitute material for particleboard production and to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of EFB-based particleboards combined with wood sawdust and Polyvinyl Acetate (PVAc) adhesive. The research employed an experimental approach with four sample variations: S1 (70% wood sawdust), S2 (70% EFB), S3 (35% EFB + 35% wood sawdust), and S4 (50% EFB + 20% wood sawdust). All samples used 30% PVAc adhesive (% b/b). The manufacturing process included chopping, grinding, adhesive mixing, molding boards with dimensions of 15 × 15 × 1 cm, and drying. Tests conducted included density, water absorption, thickness swelling, and modulus of rupture (MoR). The results showed that particleboard density ranged from 0.30–0.43 g/cm³, with three samples (S1, S3, S4) meeting the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 03-2105-2006: 0.40–0.90 g/cm³), while S2 did not. Water absorption values were considerably high, ranging from 51–135%, exceeding the ideal standard (10–30%), due to the hydrophilic nature of OPEFB fibers. Thickness swelling ranged from 10–30%, with only S3 (10%) complying with SNI requirements (≤12%). For mechanical properties, the highest MoR was achieved by S2 (1.92 kgf/cm²), while the lowest was found in S1 (0.95 kgf/cm²), indicating that EFB significantly improved flexural strength. These findings demonstrate that EFB has strong potential as an eco-friendly raw material for particleboard, particularly in enhancing mechanical strength. However, significant weaknesses remain in terms of water absorption and dimensional stability, which far exceed standard requirements. Therefore, adhesive modification or chemical/thermal treatment of OPEFB is necessary to produce particleboards that meet both national and international standards.