Lightweight boards from wood and rape straw particles

The study investigates the properties of lightweight (350-550 kg/m 3 ) particleboards made using wood or rape particles and with veneers applied to their surfaces.Their suitability for the production of furniture and elements of interior design is discussed.Panels with veneer on their faces were made using a "one shot" pressing cycle.It was found that rape particles may be used for the production of lightweight particleboards, and that they are a good alternative to wood chips.Particleboards made of rape straw, covered with beech veneer during the pressing cycle in order to strengthen their subsurface layers, have better properties than the corresponding wood-chip-based particleboards.However, all the boards, throughout the whole density range, meet the requirements for P2 boards, i.e. boards intended for interior decoration and furniture production (MOR 11 N/mm 2 , MOE 1600 N/mm 2 , IB 0.35 N/mm 2 according to EN 312).