Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Utilization of inorganic mineral filler material as partial replacement for wood fiber in medium density fiberboard (MDF) and its effect on material properties

  • Original
  • Published:
European Journal of Wood and Wood Products Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The influence of inorganic mineral filler addition on the material properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF) was investigated at varying densities. Fibreboards with 10, 20 and 30% fibers replaced by calcium carbonate weight basis (dry/dry) and with target densities of 550, 700 and 850 kgm−3, respectively, were manufactured in a laboratory scale environment. The fiberboards were prepared by adding the mineral filler in dry powder form to the wood fibers to which urea formaldehyde UF resin in liquid state had previously been added. The obtained fiber-filler furnish, with the filler distributed uniformly by sticking to the UF resin on the fibers, was then pressed into panel forms. The effect of inorganic filler on elastic and strength properties, thickness swelling, permeability, as well as formaldehyde and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions was quantified. The results demonstrate that the addition of mineral filler to MDF up to levels of 10 wt.% only have a small effect, if at all, on the material properties. The addition of calcium carbonate, and the associated increase in pH, does not have any effect on the strength development in the cured MDF, even though the results clearly demonstrate the negative effect on the curing kinetics of urea formaldehyde (UF) resin. Likewise, thickness swelling and formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) emissions are not affected by filler addition levels of up to 10 wt.%. However, exceeding this level leads to a significant decline in strength, which is believed to be caused mainly by a reduction in the number of fiber-to-fiber stress transfer points. Further, increased emissions in VOC’s are expected due to a combination of the catalytic effect of the calcium carbonate that causes a breakdown of fatty acids to VOC’s and also increased emission rates due to a higher permeability of the MDF with filler addition levels above 10 wt.%.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • DIN EN 16516 (2018) Construction products—assessment of release of dangerous substances—determination of emissions into indoor air, German version. Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN), Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • DIN EN 310 (1993) Wood-based panels; determination of modulus of elasticity in bending and of bending strength, German version. Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN), Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • DIN EN 317 (1993) Particleboards and fibreboards; determination of swelling in thickness after immersion in water, German version. Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN), Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • DIN EN 319 (1993) Particleboards and fibreboards; determination of tensile strength perpendicular to the plane of the board, German version. Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN), Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • DIN EN 323 (1993) Wood-based panels; determination of density, German version. German version. Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (DIN), Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Funk M, Wimmer R, Adamopoulos S (2017) Diatomaceous earth as an inorganic additive to reduce formaldehyde emissions from particleboards. Wood Mater Sci Eng 12:92–97

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Groom LH, Mott L, Shaler S (1999) Relationship between fiber furnish properties and the structural performance of MDF. In: 33rd International particleboard/composite materials symposium proceedings, Pullman, Washington, USA

  • Hashim R, How LS, Kumar RN, Sulaiman O (2005) Some of the properties of flame retardant medium density fiberboard made from rubberwood and recycled containers containing aluminium trihydroxide. Bioresour Technol 96:1826–1831

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbe MA, Gill RA (2016) Fillers for papermaking: a review of their properties, usage practices, and their mechanistic role. BioResources 11:2886–2963

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ISO 3340 (1976) Fibre building boards—determination of sand content. International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Istek A, Aydemir D, Eroǧlu H (2013) Combustion properties of medium-density fiberboards coated by a mixture of calcite and various fire retardants. Turk J Agric For 37:642–648

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johns WE, Niazi KA (1980) Effect of pH and buffering capacity of wood on the relation time of urea formaldehyde resin. Wood Fiber Sci 12:255–263

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juita J, Dlugogorski BZ, Kennedy EM, Mackie JC (2012) Mechanism of formation of volatile organic compounds from oxidation of linseed oil. Ind Eng Chem Res 51:5653–5661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Özdemir F, Tutus A (2016) Effects of coating with calcite together with various fire retardants on the fire properties of particleboard. BioResources 11:6407–6415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzi A (2003) Urea–formaldehyde adhesives. In: Pizzi A, Mittal KL (eds) Handbook of adhesive technology, 2nd edn. CRC Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Redwan AM, Badri KH, Tarawneh MA (2015) The effect of aluminium hydroxide (ATH) on the mechanical properties and fire resistivity of palm-based fibreboard prepared by pre-polymerization method. Adv Mater Res 1087:287–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgway CJ, Gane PAC (2003) Bulk density measurement and coating porosity calculation for coated paper samples. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 18:24–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowell RM (ed) (2012) Handbook of wood chemistry and wood composites, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Taghiyari HR, Bari E, Schmidt O (2014) Effects of nanowollastonite on biological resistance of medium-density fiberboard against Antrodia vaillantii. Eur J Wood Prod 72:399–406

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thoemen H, Klueppel A (2008) An investigation on the permeability of different wood furnish materials. Holzforschung 62:215–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang F, Gao Z, Zheng M, Sun J (2016) Flame retardant medium-density fiberboard with expanded vermiculite. BioResources 11:6940–6947

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing C, Zhang SY, Deng J (2004) Effect of wood acidity and catalyst on UF resin gel time. Holzforschung 58:408–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xing C, Zhang SY, Deng J, Riedl B, Cloutier A (2006) Medium-density fiberboard performance as affected by wood fiber acidity, bulk density, and size distribution. Wood Sci Technol 40:637–646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xing C, Zhang SY, Deng J, Wang S (2007) Urea-formaldehyde-resin gel time as affected by the pH value, solid content, and catalyst. J Appl Polym Sci 103:1566–1569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zahedsheijani R, Faezipour M, Tarmian A, Layeghi M, Yousefi H (2012) The effect of Na+ montmorillonite (NaMMT) nanoclay on thermal properties of medium density fiberboard (MDF). Eur J Wood Prod 70:565–571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Philipp Hunziker for creating the framework for this study and his support in the early phase.

Funding

This study was funded by the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI) (Grant No. 17026.2 PFIW-IW).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Omya International AG, Baslerstrasse 42, 4665, Oftringen, Switzerland

    Tomasz Ozyhar, Cathy Ridgway, Matthias Welker & Joachim Schoelkopf

  2. Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH, Solothurnstrasse 102, 2500, Biel, Switzerland

    Tobias Depnering, Ingo Mayer & Heiko Thoemen

Authors
  1. Tomasz Ozyhar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tobias Depnering
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cathy Ridgway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Matthias Welker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joachim Schoelkopf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ingo Mayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Heiko Thoemen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomasz Ozyhar.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ozyhar, T., Depnering, T., Ridgway, C. et al. Utilization of inorganic mineral filler material as partial replacement for wood fiber in medium density fiberboard (MDF) and its effect on material properties. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 78, 75–84 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-019-01480-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-019-01480-1

Search

Navigation