Study of application of coconut coir fiber-based wood-based panels: A literature review

Abstract

Wood-based panels (WBPs) like medium-density fiberboard (MDF) rely heavily on wood resources, contributing to deforestation and sustainability challenges. Coconut coir fiber, an abundant agricultural byproduct, offers a promising alternative due to its high lignin content, mechanical strength, and environmental benefits. However, its commercial adoption in WBPs remains limited by insufficient research on bio-based adhesives and optimized processing methods. This review synthesizes current knowledge on coir fiber's properties, pre-treatment techniques (alkali, silane, enzyme), and adhesive systems (urea-formaldehyde, tannin, lignin) for WBPs. Coir's mechanical performance (tensile strength: 13.51 MPa) and density (0.63 g/cm³) are comparable to wood, but its high water absorption (90.79 % in 2H) necessitates targeted treatments. While formaldehyde-based adhesives dominate the industry, bio-alternatives like tannin and lignin show potential but require functionalization to match synthetic adhesives’ strength and durability. Critical gaps include the lack of standardized production protocols and scalable bio-adhesive formulations. Future research should prioritize hybrid adhesive development, coir-wood composite optimization, and product differentiation compare to regular WBPs. This review highlights coir's viability as a wood substitute while underscoring the need for interdisciplinary innovation to overcome technical and economic barriers.