Effect of thermal treatment on Egyptian rice straw hardboard

Abstract

The effects of thermal treatment on the bending strength and water resistance of Egyptian rice straw hardboard manufactured with, or without, different amounts of resins, were investigated. The bending strength falls with increase in heating time and temperature for samples up to 1.5% resin; whereas hardboard with 3% resin showed an initial improvement in bending strength after heating at 140, 160 and 180°C. Heating samples at 200°C drastically reduces bending strength. Water resistance of all samples was improved by heat treatment.