abrasive in nature, resistance to weathering and unique composition
[5].
Although previous studies reported that the RH could be used as
a raw material for particleboard manufacture, most of them concluded
that major drawbacks of the RH particleboards were low
flexural modulus and strength, and dimensional stability compared
with the strandboards made from wood strands [6–8]. For
example, flexural modulus and strength of RH particleboards
bonded with phenol–formaldehyde (PF) resin are 1700–2600 N/
mm2 and 10–13 N/mm2 [9] while they were 4799 N/mm2 and
31.8 N/mm2 for strandboards made from aspen wood strands
bonded with PF resin, respectively [10]. The RH particleboards
are not widely used as a structural board in construction industry
due to the above mentioned low strength and high thickness swelling.
They are suited more for nonstructural applications, such as
furniture and interior fitmens. The flexural modulus is a measure
of resistance to panel deflection. It is one of the most important
mechanical properties of wood composite panels since it impacts
the serviceability and the structural performance for both exterior
and interior applications. It can be said that there is a huge potential
market for the RH particleboards having high flexural modulus
and strength, and a good dimensional stability and that is close to
strandboard which is a structural material.
The most important facing properties for structural design are
the flexural properties because these properties are needed for