PRODUÇÃO DE PAINÉIS DE ALTA DENSIDADE E USO ENERGÉTICO DE BAMBU COM COPARTICIPAÇÃO DE ERVA-MATE

Abstract

Bamboo has a high capacity to produce biomass, which can be used as raw material for various uses, however, in Brazil the lack of research is a limiting aspect to take advantage of this plant potential. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of the bamboo (Phillostachys aurea (Carrière) Riviere et C. Riviere) and co-products of mate herb (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) use in the production of high density panel and energy biomass. The specific objectives were: (i) to study the anatomy of adult stems of bamboo different species; (ii) compile data of the physical-mechanical properties of adult stems of bamboos different species; (iii) describe the potential use of bamboo for energy purposes; (iv) to evaluate the influence of the particles produced from adult bamboo stems, mate herb sticks and Pinus taeda L wood on the physico-mechanical properties of high-density panels; (v) determine the energy properties of bamboo species and mate herb co--products(branches and sticks) biomass. Procedures were established to obtained particles from bamboo chips and mate herb sticks, which were chopped and sieved in 8 and 12 mesh granulometry. High density panels were produced in mixtures different proportions of the produced particles and of Pinus taeda, according to the simplex centroid experimental design. Adhesive spreading was done with Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde (MUF) resin in a drum-type rotary mixer. The panels were manually formed and pressed in a hydraulic press at 120 °C, 60 kgf.cm-2 for 10 minutes, until the 6 mm steel limiting bars. In order to evaluate the energy potential, the immediate and energetic analysis of the material obtained from three bamboo species, pruning branches and sticks of mate herb, according to the specific standards, was carried out. From the experimental results of the high density panels, density, moisture content, swelling (2 and 24 hours), water absorption (2 hours), strength and stiffnessin static bending (MOR and MOE) and perpendicular tensile strength are explained by the cubic model, while the water absorption (24 hours) and the hardness are explained by the quadratic model. The best results of the physical properties were observed for bamboo and Pinus taeda blends, and of the mechanical properties, for bamboo, mate herb and Pinus taeda blend. It was concluded in relation to energy analysis that there are significant statistical differences between the materials obtained from different bamboo species and mate herb, however, the materials presented energy use potential.