Evaluation of chestnut shell and coffee waste with phenol-formaldehyde resin for plywood filler

Abstract Chestnut fruit shell and ground coffee waste were evaluated as filler raw materials for plywood adhesive. A phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin was formulated in the laboratory for plywood manufacture. Specification characteristics were determined on the PF resin, including nonvolatile solids, gel time, viscosity, etc. The laboratory synthesized PF resin was mixed with extender, filler and NaOH. Plywoods were uniformly made with the PF resin mixture and tested for tension shear strength after aging method, modulus of rupture (MOR) and thickness swell according to the procedures of the Korean Standard KS F 3101 and KS F 3114. All plywood made with each filler type showed good physical and mechanical strength properties. The performance test results indicated that the chestnut fruit shell and ground coffee waste would be suitable as filler for plywood adhesive.