Effect of growing altitude, particle drying temperature and press temperature on some technological properties of particleboard produced from black alder wood

This study investigated the effects of the growing altitude, particle drying temperature and press temperature on some technological properties of particleboard produced from black alder wood. The particles were produced from wood taken from the KTÜ Campus and from Çamoba in Trabzon. Production and tests of the experimental particleboards were carried out at Kastamonu Integrated Wood Company. In production of the particleboards, wood from different growing altitudes [50 m and 250 m] was used, and different drying temperatures [120 and 150°C] and press temperatures [150 and 200°C] were applied. Mechanical, physical and anatomical properties of the produced boards were investigated. According to the results, the mechanical properties deteriorate when the altitude increases. Increasing the particle drying temperature and press temperature had a positive effect on dimensional stability. A high press temperature improved the mechanical properties of the boards. In addition, growing altitude had an effect on anatomical properties: when the altitude increased, the diameter of vessels narrowed, the number of vessels per mm2 increased, and fiber length decreased. This resulted in a deterioration in mechanical properties at the higher altitude.