ALKENYL SUCCINIC ANHYDRIDE AS A COMPOUND TO REDUCE WATER ABSORPTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF FIBERBOARD WITH PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE RESIN

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) as an additive for improving the water resistance of wood fiberboard produced with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) showed a decreasing trend with increasing ASA content with reductions of 17 % to 35 % at 2 - 8 wt. % ASA, respectively, suggesting insufficient interfacial adhesion between the resin and ASA. However, at 10 wt. % ASA, no significant decrease in MOE was observed, indicating an improvement in crosslinking at higher additive levels. A similar trend was observed for bending strength (MOR), which decreased by an average of 1.77 - fold with increasing ASA content. In contrast, the addition of ASA significantly improved water - related properties. Water absorption decreased by up to 3 - fold and thickness swelling decreases 5 - fold.