Durability Properties of particleboard made from peanut shell and Gum Arabic as a binder

In this research, efforts have been made to convert peanut shell into the fabrication of particleboards using Gum Arabic as a binder. an average particle size of 2mm. Mix ratios of 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, and 3.5:1 of Gum Arabic to the peanut shell by weight of the peanut shell were produced respectively. Twenty-four Particleboards (200 X 50 X 12mm) were fabricated and cured for 28 days. tests on moisture content, water absorption, thickness swelling, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity were conducted according to ASTM D 1037-93 procedures. The Results from the tests indicated that the moisture content of the boards with mean values of 7.8% at the time of conducting the test was also below the maximum of 10% specified by ANSI/A208.1-1999 standard. Particleboards produced using Gum-Arabic-peanut shell ratio of 3.5:1 gave the best results in terms of the lowest mean values of water absorption of 43.30%, and thickness swelling 10.72% after four hours of immersion in distilled water. The modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, with mean value are 5.518N/mm2 and 1556.954N/mm2 respectively, were above 3.0N/mm2 and 550N/mm2 as the minimum values specified by ANSI/A208.1-1999 respectively. The particleboards produced met the standard for general-purpose boards except for water absorption and thickness swelling characteristics which were above the maximum of 8% and 3% respectively, specified by ANSI/A208.1-1999. Therefore, it can be considered cost effective and suitable for indoor structural applications, offering a cheaper alternative to conventional boards.