USE OF COCONUT FIBER IN MANUCTURED RECONSTITUTED PANELS
lignocellulosic waste, agglomerates, forest products.
The demand for timber products grows annually in Brazil and this fact causes scarcity of forest resources. Therefore, the timber sector seeks alternatives to maintain production and meet the demand for these products. The one of these alternatives is the production of agglomerated panels with lignocellulosic residues. The several studies have been carried out involving the incorporation of agro-industrial waste in the manufacture of reconstituted panels, such as, the coconut fiber, sugarcane bagasse, rice hulls, coffee husks, among others, for the production of panels. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of cement panels composed by different proportions of Eucalyptus urograndis wood and coconut fiber, with Portland cement CPV-ARI as the binder. We realized six treatments, which was coconut fiber added in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%, besides to the control without addition of coconut fiber (0%). In addition, we used the chemical additive to cancel another treatment in the raw materials to make panels. Due to, previous studies have displayed that chemical treatments on wood particles and coconut fiber were not able to cause significant differences to occur for both physical and mechanical properties. The panels were analyzed for physical properties, which were specific mass, water absorption in 2 and 24 h and swelling in thickness in 2 and 24 h of immersion. We will also submit the panel to the mechanical tests, as static bending, internal bonding and compression. Finally, with the already obtained data we could observe that the physical analyzes were satisfactory, with the panels produced in 50% of coconut fiber can be used for internal use.