Aurelija Rimkienė, Sigitas Vėjelis, Saulius Vaitkus
Engineered wood is increasingly valued for its use of renewable raw materials, low environmental impact, and good performance characteristics. The wide variety of raw materials used to produce engineered wood requires detailed research to select rational technological production parameters. This paper examines engineered wood produced from furniture-recycling waste and different polyurethane compositions. The factors under analysis include mixture pressure level, binder type, and filler preparation. The effect of the mixture’s pressure level on density, structure, strength, and moisture indicators was evaluated. The pressure levels were 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 MPa. Tests have shown that the mixture pressure level significantly affects compressive strength, absorption, swelling, and structure formation. A rational pressure level of 3.0 MPa was determined. When using this level, there are no voids in the samples. Depending on the binder composition, the resulting compressive strength ranges from 20.5 to 25.6 MPa, water absorption from 7.62 to 10.3 kg/m2, and swelling from 8.65 to 12.6%. At a pressure of 3.5 MPa, the properties of engineered wood improve further, but the binder begins to separate from the mixture. A significant influence of the binder on compressive strength, absorption, and swelling was observed. A detailed kinetic analysis was performed to evaluate changes in sample strength following production. The tests showed that the compressive strength increased markedly 14 days after sample preparation.