Production and Properties Chip Block Pallets from Teak Wood (Tectona grandis sp.) Biomass

Wood biomass, such as sawdust, particles, and chips from the wood industry, can be potentially used as a composite product. Chip block pallets (CBP) are composite products that can be produced from industrial wood waste and are in high demand in the logistics sector. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the production of CBP from teak wood biomass with varying polyurethane contents. In addition, this study analyzed the optimum particle-size composition was determined. The CBP production of CBP be divided into two stages. The first stage evaluated the use of polyurethane adhesive content, whereas the second stage considered the effect of particle size composition. The 9 × 9 × 9 cm3 of CBP with 0.6 g/cm3 target density was fabricated using a cold press. The National Wooden Pallet and Container Association (NWPCA) standards were used to evaluate the density, moisture content, dimensional stability, water absorption, compressive strength (CS), and screw-holding strength (SHS) of our CBP products. The mechanical and physical properties of CBP products were investigated. As a result, the CBP sample prepared using 4–14 mesh particle size and 4.5% adhesive content showed the optimal strength values, such as CS of 14.67 MPa and SHS of 371.50 N. These findings demonstrate that the CBPs derived from teak wood waste closely resemble commercial chip blocks and have the potential to replace wood bearings as pallet pads.