Hardboards from mixtures of Colombian and Ghanaian hardwoods

FOREST SERVICE CONDUCTS A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES DESIGNED TO ASSESS ECONOMICAL USES OF FOREST PRODUCTS. THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE METHODS AND RESULTS OF A PROJECT TO ESTABLISH THE SUITABILITY OF HARDWOOD MIXTURES FROM COLOMBIA AND GHANA FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF HARDBOARD. LOW ENERGY WAS REQUIRED TO FIBERIZE THE CHIPS INTO HARDBOARD FIBER. HIGH-DENSITY HARDBOARDS MADE FROM BOTH CHIP MIXTURES BY BOTH DRY- AND WET-FORMED PROCESSES MET THE VOLUNTARY PRODUCT STANDARD FOR STANDARD HARDBOARD, EXCEPT FOR DRY-FORMED HARDBOARDS WITH TWO PERCENT RESIN. DRY-FORMED, MEDIUM-DENSITY HARDBOARD MADE WITH UREA RESIN HAD STRENGTH PROPERTIES SUITABLE FOR FURNITURE CORE STOCK. MEDIUM-DENSITY HARDBOARD MADE WITH PHENOL-RESORCINOL RESIN HAD STRENGTH AND ACCELERATED AGING PROPERTIES SUITABLE FOR EXTERIOR SIDING APPLICATION. ALL HARDBOARDS HAD EXCELLENT SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH ARE DESIRABLE IN FINISHING.