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ARTICLE

Enhancing the Performance and Durability of Oil Palm Trunk Particleboards through Chemical Pre-Treatment and Bio-Based Antifungal Modification

I. Nur Azreena*, H. A. Aisyah, A. W. Noorshamsiana
Malaysian Palm Oil Board, No. 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, Kajang, 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
* Corresponding Author: I. Nur Azreena. Email: email
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Harnessing the Potential of Natural Fiber Composites: A Paradigm Shift Towards Sustainable Materials )

Journal of Renewable Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0178

Received 12 September 2025; Accepted 05 December 2025; Published online 29 December 2025

Abstract

This study examined the impact of various pre-treatment techniques on the physical and mechanical characteristics of particleboards derived from oil palm trunks (OPT). Thermal and chemical pre-treatments of the fibers, including hot water, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and acetic acid, were applied prior to board production. In addition, antifungal agents were incorporated as supplementary additives during the manufacturing process at varying percentages to evaluate their effect on panel performance. Morphology of the treated OPT fibers was examined, and panel properties such as thermal behavior, bending strength, bonding strength, and dimensional stability were evaluated. Statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) were observed across key performance indicators. The highest modulus of elasticity (MOE), 3247.2 N/mm2, was recorded in boards pre-treated with 1.5% NaOH and wood vinegar (WV), while the highest modulus of rupture (MOR), 29.9 N/mm2, was observed in hot water pre-treated boards with 1.0% WV. Internal bonding (IB) was significantly affected by treatment type (p < 0.001), with hot water pre-treatment and 1.5% WV yielding the highest IB value of 2.9 N/mm2. Statistical analysis was significantly influenced by the pre-treatment and antifungal concentration. Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test revealed that hot water and acetic acid pre-treatments, particularly at moderate WV concentrations, consistently outperformed other treatments in mechanical strength and dimensional stability. Findings affirm that optimizing pre-treatment methods, especially using eco-friendly agents like WV, can significantly enhance the performance of OPT-based particleboards, supporting their application as sustainable, high-performance alternatives to conventional wood composites.

Keywords

Oil palm trunk; particleboard; pre-treatment; antifungal agents; mechanical properties

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