Bonding Performance of Maltodextrin and Citric Acid for Particleboard Made From Nipa Fronds

Maltodextrin and citric acid are two types of natural materials with the potential as an eco-friendly binder. Maltodextrin is a natural substance rich in hydroxyl groups and can form hydrogen bonds with lignoselulosic material, while citric acid is a polycarboxylic acid which can form an ester bond with a hydroxyl group at lignoselulosic material. The combination of maltodextrin and citric acid as a natural binder materials supposed to be increase the ester bonds formed within the particleboard. This research determined to investigate the bonding properties of a new adhesive composed of maltodextrin/citric acid for nipa frond particleboard. Maltodextrin and citric acid were dissolved in distillated water at the ratios of 100/0, 87.5/12.5, 75/25 and 0/100, and the concentration of the solution was adjusted to 50% for maltodextrin and 60% citric acid (wt%). This adhesive solution was sprayed onto the particles at 20% resin content based on the weight of oven dried particles. Particleboards with a size of $25{\times}25{\times}1cm$, a target density $800kg/m^3$ were prepared by hot-pressing at press temperatures of $180^{\circ}C$ or $200^{\circ}C$, a press time of 10 minute and board pressure 3.6 MPa. Physical and mechanical properties of particleboard were tested by a standard method (JIS A 5908). The results showed that added citric acid level in maltodextrin/citric acid composition and hot-pressing temperature had affected to the properties of particleboard. The optimum properties of the board were achieved at a pressing temperature of $180^{\circ}C$ and the addition of only 20% citric acid. The results also indicated that the peak intensity of C=O group increased and OH group decreased with the addition of citric acid and an increase in the pressing temperature, suggesting an interreaction between the hydroxyl groups from the lignocellulosic materials and carboxyl groups from citric acid to form the ester groups.