Physical and Mechanical Properties of Banana:

Its Potential for Particle Board Manufacturing

Custudio, Mathew Miguel

Sarenas, Rayvin G.
Tambasacan, Reachel M.

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department

College of Engineering
Cagayan State University
Introduction
Particle boards are panel shaped engineered wood.
These are produced and manufactured by compressing
glued or non-glued lignocellulose materials like sawdust,
wood by means of hydraulic presses. Somehow, depletion
of forest resources has increased demand for this kind of
products. Contributing new renewable materials can solve
raw material shortage in the industry of particle board.
Banana plant stems are edible, healthy and rich in
fibres. Banana fibres from the outer skin of the banana
stems can be used as natural threads.
 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of the study is to determine the
effect of the different particle medium in the physical and
mechanical properties of banana stalks particle board.
Specifically, it aimes to:

1. To produce a high quality particle board made of Banana stalks.

2. Determine the significant of banana stalks particle board and the
physical and mechanical properties of particle board.
3. Determine the effect of different particle medium on the tensile
and of the developed BANANA STALKS PARTICLE BOARD (BSPB).
4. Determine the rate of the water absorption capacity (%),
thickness swelling (%) and density in BSPB.
5. Determine the cost of producing BSPB.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• To the university
• To the environment
• To banana farmers and farm workers
• For students and faculty researcher
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• Santiago (2005) developed a particle board

which uses laboratory size of 12mm x 20 cm x
50 cm. with board of density of 1040 kg/ sq.
cm using the different binder combinations:
Portland + Morinda Citrofolia, Union
Wallright + Morinda Citrofolia, Portland +
Litsea Sebifera, Union Wallright + Litsea
Sebifera, Portland + Maximizer and Union
Wallright + Maximizer.
 • Another study was mode on the Physical and
Mechanical Properties of Particleboard Manufactured
from Wood, Bamboo and Rice Husk from Instituto de
Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Federal
de Mato Grosso – UFMT, CEP 78557-267, Sinop, MT,
Brazil.
• The physical-mechanical properties of particleboards
manufactured with wood (Eucalyptus grandis), bamboo
(Bambusa vulgaris) and/or rice husk (Oryza sativa)
particles, combined or not, were assessed.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Tools and Equipment
• Cutter
• Chopping board
• Scissors
• Scientific calculators
• Pencil, ball pen & Ruler
• Laboratory size molder (12mm x 20cm x 50cm).
• Universal Testing Machine (UTM)
• Weighing Scale
• Vernier Caliper
• Graduated cylinder
• Basin

Materials to be Use
• Dried banana stalks
• Rubber latex
• Plastic Malabo
• Polyethene
• Urea formaldehyde
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
INPUT
-ALTERNATIVE IDEAS FROM RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES.
-COST

PROCESS
-PREPARATION OF MATERIALS
-TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTS
-LABOR
-MIXING OF MATERIALS
-IDEATION
-DESIGN OF PRODUCT
-PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
-TESTING AND EVALUATION

OUTPUT
-PARTICLE BOARD MADE OF BANANA STALKS
• Construction of molders
The molders which are wooden forming boxes were
constructed with an inside dimension of 12mm x 20cm x 50cm
(Figure 2). It is composed of marine plywood and tanguile fastened
rigidly together by common nails.
Preparation of Materials
• Banana stalks can be source out in any part in Cagayan. The stalk
which cuts into desired sizes will be used, and then removal of leaf
sheath will be done after sun drying of the said stalks. Moisture
content of sundried banana stalks will be calculated on a wet basis
using Equation 1.

• Chopping to designed sizes – after attaining the desired MC, banana

stalks will be cut into desired sizes at least 1-2 square centimetre.
Banana to latex mixing ratios
• Different mixing ratios will be use in producing the particle board.
The ratios to be used are 70-30%, 60-40%, and 50-50% respectively
(Table 1). This ratio will be used to come up with a mixture with
high concentration to maximize the binding efficiency.

Drying
• The molded dried leaves will be air dried for 24 hours so that the
binder and the dried leaves as raw material will be properly
hardened.
Thickness swelling
• Thickness swelling (TS) was determined by measuring the thickness
of BSPB before and after soaking. The thickness of the board was
measured at the center of the sample board with a vernier caliper.
The point of measurement was marked for identification. The
thickness swelling was determined using Equation 2.

Cost of Producing BSPB

• Producing BSPB with size equivalent to the commercial plywood (4’
× 8’) for the computed annual fixed cost and annual variable cost
were Php(Ᵽ) 1,053.35/yr and Ᵽ641,664/yr, respectively. The
estimated production capacity of 1152 pieces, the production cost
or cost of producing one BSPB was found to be Ᵽ557.
 BOARD TESTING
•  
 WATER ABSORPTION (WA)
•  
 STATISTICAL DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS

• Data gathered will be statistically analysed in

Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with
three replications. Analysis of variance
(ANOVA) will be used to test the significance of
the different treatment means. On the other hand,
Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 1% and
5% levels of significance will be employed to
determine which among the treatment means are
significantly different with each other
Simple Cost Analysis
• Table 2. Cost Analysis for producing particle board.
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