Recycled polystyrene as the binder for PCM-Impregnated particleboard: effect of adhesive percentage on the physical and mechanical properties

This research investigated the potential of utilizing phase change materials (PCM), specifically palmitic acid (PA), and recycled polystyrene (RPS) as a binder. This is one of the solutions to reduce excessive energy consumption and synthetic resins for the development of particleboard-based product. By creating wood composites mixed with 36g of PM and RPS to 10%, 15%, and 20%, we can analyse the qualities of sawdust impregnated with PA as the PCM and RPS as a binder assess the physical and mechanical properties of wood composites formed of rubber wood, PA and RPS. The evaluation involved the rubber wood sawdust test it is TGA, DSC, FT-IR and XRD, and wood composite testing it is bending test, density, moisture content, water absorption and thickness swelling. For example, the result found in this thesis is a test from the XRD test which is a 20% sample in the wood that has undergone the impregnation process, the degree of crystallinity is 33.3% which is caused by typically, a melt or diluted solution needs to be cooled below its melting point to become crystallized. The latter may cause single crystals to form. Stretching a polymer can also cause crystallization. Based on this research sawdust wood composite shows weakness in RPS15% sample due to the lack of presence of RPS, the composite is slightly weaker because of the pores the space produced through the test bet while the pore space produced for the sample mixed with RPS, seen in results such as bending, tensile, and others, showing the wood composite to be stronger to hold sawdust in composite production.