EFFECT OF THE STEAM CURE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT-WOOD BONDED BOARDS

ABSTRACT

The effect of the steam cure on the mechanical properties of the boards was carried out with boards produced with Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake wood particles combined with chloride calcium additive (4%) and ARI Portland cement (Portland cement initial high resistance). The boards were submitted to 3 periods of cure (7, 14 and 28 days) combining steam cure (60 ⁰C) and cure in a climated room (20 ± 3^oC e 65 ± 1%). It was evaluated the mechanical properties of the boards, in which it was observed if such periods of exposure caused equivalent resistance. It can be concluded that: the variation of time the exposure of the boards in a climated steam caused satsfactory effects, especially in the mechanical properties elasticity modulus and parallel compression of boards, but it hasn’t affected the rupture modulus and the internal bonding.

Key words:
Cement-wood bonded board (CWBB); steam cure; Eucalyptus urophylla