The effect of post-manufacture on the properties of hight density fire-retardant treated fiberboard panels

Introduction: Fiberboard panels present great advantages in furniture manufacturing despite their inherent flammability. This problem will be solved by treating those panels with the right fire retardant (FR) additives. Objectives: A set of high density fiberboard went through several hot pressing operations in order to study the influence of this procedure on the substrate properties. Methods: The experimental plan was developed for three different temperatures of 95 °C, 180 °C and 210 °C and two different pressing times (22 seconds and 35 seconds) for each. The panels were made out of pine fibers (Pinus pinaster) and had an average density of 930 kg/m3 and were 6.7 mm thick. Results: The results indicated that the post-manufacture hot-pressing of the FR-treated HDF panels led to a slight improvement in the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and in the bending strength of the panels used as substrates. A decrease in the moisture content and in the fiberboards’ thickness and an increase in their density and in their thickness swelling was observed as higher temperatures and longer pressing times were applied to the panels. Conclusions: There was also a slight decrease in the internal bonding strength of the panels due to the presence of the flame retardant which leads to a decrease in the bonding capacity of the resin. Conclusions: There was a slight improvement in the properties of the substrate except in the fiberboards’ internal bonding strength which experienced a slight decrease due to the interference of the fire retardant.