Effects of Medium Density Fiberboards (MDF) Recycling Methods on Fiber Dimensions and Some Reconstructed Board Properties

In this study, different methods, including acid hydrolysis (phosphoric and formic acid), thermo-hydrolysis, and microwave methods were tested for recycling of fiberboards made of 100 % beech and 70 % beech + 30 % pine wood fibers, which are widely sold in the market. The impacts of the using methods on the fibers were investigated with the help of a device that determines the fiber dimensions according to optical principles. In a laboratory setting, test boards were constructed using recycled fibers, and the changes in certain physical and mechanical qualities were studied. As a result, it was determined that recycled fibers obtained from microwave and thermo-hydrolysis fibers could be effectively used in fiberboard production. However, the proportion of fibers, longer than 1.24 mm, was decreased by about 30 % with the phosphoric acid method for MDF samples composed of 100 % beech fiber. The fiberboards could not be obtained from fibers recycled through acid hydrolysis except for phosphoric acid method with 100 % beech fibers.