Cotton stalks are used for preparation of particle boards. The production process comprises of chipping cotton stalks, drying to required moisture content, sieving into finer and coarser fractions, blending of material with resin and catalyst, three layered mat formation, pressing, cutting to size and sanding. Density of particle boards made from cotton stalk was 671 kg/cm3, water absorption was 28 and 31% for 2 and 24 hours respectively whereas internal bond strength was 0.6 N/mm2. Particle boards made with optimal resin concentration, pressing time, curing temperature and pressure met with BIS standards for strength and moisture absorption. Utilization of cotton stalks for manufacturing of particle board will be a solution to the raw material shortage in the particle board industry. Value addition to cotton stalks will prove to be an avenue for income generation to rural community in cotton growing states of India. In addition to that, it will help in mitigation of greenhouse gas emission caused by burning the cotton stalks in open air.
Cotton stalks, Particle boards, Production process
