Properties of engineered oil palm composite boards from 32 years-old tree stems

The unutilized stems of oil palm trees found in abundant in Malaysia and considered as an agriculture waste were
investigated as a possible alternative to future wood. The stems are of no economic importance in their natural form, but
once converted into the form of engineered composite boards their properties improved tremendously. This paper
highlighted properties of the engineered composite boards made from oil palm stems at four different height positions
comprising two portions height and two cross-sectional zones. The engineered boards have shown to have variation in
properties when tested for their physical, mechanical and glue delaminating studies. Testing on all the composite boards specimens were done in accordance with the Japanese Agricultural Standard, JAS No. 237: 2003.