This study investigates the performance evaluation of eco-friendly particleboards produced from rice husk and sawdust as sustainable alternatives to conventional wood-based panels. The research aimed to utilize abundant agro-wastes to develop low-cost, high-performance boards while reducing environmental degradation from deforestation and waste burning. Six particleboard samples were produced using urea-formaldehyde resin as binder: pure sawdust (S100), pure rice husk (R100), sawdust-rich blend (SR70/30), rice husk-rich blend (SR30/70), two-layered composite (S100/R100), and commercial Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) as control. All samples were tested for density, moisture content, water absorption, internal bond (IB) strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), hardness, impact resistance, and dimensional stability in accordance with EN 312:2010, EN 319:1993, EN 317, and ASTM D1037. The results revealed that the two-layered board (S100/R100) exhibited the best overall performance among the experimental samples. It achieved density and mechanical properties comparable to commercial MDF, with an internal bond strength of 0.51 N/mm² and bending strength within EN 312 interior-grade limits. Rice husk-based boards (R100 and SR30/70) demonstrated superior hardness (up to 38.5 N/mm²) and lower water absorption due to the silica content and denser surface structure of the husk particles. Sawdust-based boards (S100 and SR70/30) showed better flexibility and higher MOR and MOE, indicating stronger fiber bonding but slightly reduced dimensional stability. Warping and swelling rates of all experimental boards remained below the EN 317 limit for interior-grade use, confirming satisfactory dimensional stability. Cost analysis revealed substantial economic benefits, with all experimental boards recording over 70% cost savings compared to commercial MDF. Overall, the study demonstrates that rice husk and sawdust can be effectively combined to produce strong, durable, and dimensionally stable eco-friendly particleboards, promoting circular economy practices while maintaining acceptable structural performance.
Ani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.