Effect of Adding Cement to the Mechanical Properties of Red Gypsum Particleboard Made of Kelempayan Wood

Abstract

— Gypsum particleboard has many weaknesses such as low resistivity again water. Plus, it also has low mechanical properties compared with cement-bonded particleboard. Therefore, the properties of gypsum particleboard can be improved by adding cement. In order to analyze the improvement on the properties of the particleboard, a series of mechanical tests were conducted. The compatibility of Kelempayan wood species in the manufacturing of the particleboard were also determined by referring from the strength of board that is obtained from the mechanical test. The experimental results showed that particleboard with more cement have better mechanical properties compared with the particleboard with less cement. However, the properties decrease back at some cement quantity. The results show how the properties of the board changes positively and negatively when cement is added. That's why, the amount of cement added must be optimum which means not too lack and not too excessive. Thus, the properties of cement gypsum particleboard were successfully improved when the cement is added at 2%.