LAUSR

This research aimed at investigating the effect of epoxy resin and flame retardant additives on oil palm trunk particleboard. The oil palm trunk was used as a raw material with epoxy resin as a binder, which was synthesized by a reaction of epichlorohydrin and phenolphthalein, while aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide were used as flame retardant additives to manufacture particleboards. Four different types of particleboards were produced, control board, board with 10% epoxy resin, board with 10% epoxy resin and 6% aluminium hydroxide and board with 10% epoxy resin and 6% magnesium hydroxide, based on a target density of $$0.80~\hbox {g}~\hbox {cm}^{-3}$$0.80gcm-3, at a temperature of $$180^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$180∘C, a pressure of 5 MPa and a pressing time of 20 min. The mechanical, physical, functional group, spectroscopic, morphological and elemental analysis properties were determined in comparison with control particleboard. Thermal degradation and flame retardant analyses were also carried out to analyse the thermal properties of particleboards. The results indicated that particleboard bonded with epoxy resin and flame retardant additives had improved mechanical, physical, thermal and flame retardant properties compared to control oil palm trunk particleboard. Overall results showed that epoxy resin as a binder and aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide as additives have the potential to be incorporated into the particleboard to improve flame retardant properties.