Production of Lightweight Three-Layered Particleboards Using Waste Tire Rubbers

The aim of the study is to investigate the production possibilities of particleboard by using waste tirerubbers with different properties as fillers and find a solution to a serious environmental pollution problem caused by waste tires. For this purpose, waste summer and winter tires were ground, rubber powders were obtained by separating rubber materials from other materials, and particleboards with different properties were produced using this sawdust in different percentages. The oven-dry density, air-dry density, and equilibrium moisture content at (65±5) % RH and (20±2) ºC, thickness swelling (TS, 2 hours and 24 hours), water absorption (WA, 2 hours and 24 hours) characteristics, bending strength, modulus of elasticity, and internal bond strength were determined according to the applicable European standards. The hydrophobic nature of the tire rubber enhanced the water absorption ratios of particleboards. In addition, mechanical performance of groups was affected by tire content, and it was mainly determined that the values decreased dramatically with increasing tire content. It was especially observed that this decrease was more pronounced when subtracting 30 % to 20 % waste tire content. The groups including winter waste tire rubber achieved better performance than summer waste tire groups. The use of waste rubber in boards resulted in a decrease in the equilibrium moisture content and mechanical strength of the samples.