International Journal of Forestry and Wood Science IJFWS

Vol. 7(2), pp. 096-100, August, 2020. © www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: 2167-0465

Research Article

Block Board from Melia dubia

*M.P. Singh1, Prakash. V2, Uday. D. N3, Sujatha. D4, Kiran. M. C5 and Narasimhamurthy6
1Director, Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (Bengaluru) and Director, Institute of Wood Science
and Technology (Bengaluru).
2,3 Process Development, Engineering, Sawmilling and Saw Doctoring Division, IPIRTI, Post Bag No.2273, HMT Link Road

OFF Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru - 560022

4Adhesive Technology Division, IPIRTI, Post Bag No.2273, HMT Link Road OFF Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru

- 560022
5Center for Testing and Evaluation of Wood Composites - Division, IPIRTI, Post Bag No.2273, HMT Link Road OFF

Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru - 560022

6 Biology - Division, IPIRTI, Post Bag No.2273, HMT Link Road OFF Tumkur Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru - 560022

This study evaluated the technical feasibility of making block board from Melia dubia. Block board
from Melia dubia was produced with phenol formaldehyde resin employing hot pressing
conditions as required for the resin formulation. Block boards thus produced were subjected for
evaluation of physical and mechanical properties as per relevant specifications (IS 1659, 2004).
The test results revealed that the modulus of elasticity (MoE) obtained is 7446 N/mm2 (average)
against the required value of 5000 N/mm2 and 6865 N/mm2 (Minimum individual) against standard
value of 4200 N/mm2. The modulus of rupture (MoR) obtained is 58.7 N/mm2 (average) against the
required value of 50 N/mm2 and 45.2 N/mm2 (Minimum individual) against standard value of 42
N/mm2. All other requirements such as variation in dimensions, Surface defects and dimensional
changes caused due to humidity stays well within the limits as specified in the Indian standard.
From the outcome of the tests carried out, it is found that the block boards from Melia dubia
conforms to the requirements as laid in the Indian standards. From this study, it can be concluded
that Melia dubia timber can be used for manufacturing block board which meets the requirements
of Indian standards as prescribed in IS: 1659 – 2004 (specifications for block boards).

Keywords: Block board, Phenol formaldehyde resin, Modulus of Elasticity (MoE), Modulus of Rupture (MoR), Melia dubia.

INTRODUCTION
Tremendous pressure of the ever-increasing population growers. Inadequate raw materials and stringent forest
and impact of economic growth has put burden on the policies have forced the wood-based industries to become
forest resources for various end uses. The current supply self-reliant in terms of acquiring their own raw materials.
of raw material for wood-based industries in the country is The growing demand for timber can be met to some extent
lagging behind the demand (Chauhan RS et al., 2018). by utilizing fast growing species and increasing the timber
Melia dubia belongs to the family meliaceae which also production through intensive silviculture management.
has its trade name as Malabar neem and locally called as
*Corresponding Author: Prakash Vijay kumar, Process
Hebbevu (Kannada), Malai Vembu (Tamil). It’s an
Development, Engineering, Sawmilling and Saw Doctoring
indigenous fast-growing tree species with multipurpose Division, Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training
usage such as for packaging and as raw materials for Institute, Post Bag No.2273, HMT Link Road OFF Tumkur
plywood, pulpwood, particleboard, laminated veneer Road, Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru - 560022.
lumber (LVL) (Prakash V et al., 2019) etc. The species is Email: prakashv@ipirti.gov.in
suitable for plantation viz. farm forestry and agro forestry Co-Author 1Email: director@ipirti.gov.in
under various agro climatic conditions. Thus, in the current 3
Email: nduday@ipirti.gov.in
scenario further studies on suitability of this timber for other 4
Email: dsujatha@ipirti.gov.in
panel products like Block board will help this species to 5
Email: kiranmc@ipirti.gov.in
6
gain greater attraction by farmers, foresters and plantation Email: nmurthy@ipirti.gov.in

Block Board from Melia dubia

Singh et al 97

Melia dubia is currently being promoted as a fast-growing products like plywood, particleboard, laminated veneer
plantation timber species which is emerging as a lumber (LVL), medium density fibreboard (MDF) etc. This
promising source of raw material for wood-based panel research work is an extension of the previous woks to find
industries and the results are encouraging as more out the suitability of Melia dubia for manufacturing block
number of farmers are taking up large scale plantations in board.
almost every part of India. The performance of this species
greatly depends on the plantation density (Patil H Y et al., OBJECTIVES
2017) and the environment in which they grow
(Swaminathan et al., 2012). 1. To optimize the process parameters for manufacturing
block boards from Melia dubia
Plywood has long been an integral part of light-frame wood 2. To optimize the resin formulation to achieve required
construction and furniture, but other composite materials, bonding in block board as per the relevant standard
such as block board, are increasingly being substitute for 3. To Evaluate the physical and mechanical properties as
solid wood and plywood (Morrell et al., 2002). Block board per the relevant standard (IS 1659, 2004).
consists of a central layer (core) made up of solid wood
strips that may contain defects undesirable for the face of
the finished panels. The facing on block board is stiffened
and bound together by glued, hot-pressed rotary-cut
veneers. Adjacent veneers are oriented perpendicular to
the grain (Laufenberg et al., 2006). Figure 1 – Cross sectional view of a Block board

Block board is one of the alternatives to plywood, which

withstands bending better than plywood. The main
advantage of block board is that the heart of the board is
produced from thick sections of sawn wood assembled
edge wise with in a frame which is sandwiched with cross
bands and face veneers on either sides as shown in figure
1 and figure 2 (Teixeira et al., 2017), the core can also be
made of short slats with different end-to-end joints
(Moazami et al., 2014) the core and the veneers being
glued under high pressure and temperature. Because of
the way it is made, block board is considered a distinct type
of plywood (Zanuttini et al., 2002). The left out portion of Figure 2 – Pictorial view of a Block board
logs during veneer peeling which is also known as peeler
core or lumber cores can be sawn and used as core for
block boards and thus reducing cost and manufacturing
time. Typical applications of block boards are in
manufacturing furniture, backs of cabinets and centre
panels for framed doors, kitchen cupboards, core for flush
doors, lightweight and decorative doors etc. apart from
these applications partitioning, exhibition panelling,
kitchen cabinets, bedroom and dining room furniture,
loudspeaker boxes can also be manufactured from block
board (Kartal and Ayrilmis, 2005; Laufenberg et al., 2006).

SCOPE
For any wood based industry to survive in the market, Figure 3 – 3D view of a Block board showing the Edge
uninterrupted supply of timber raw materials is the key. strip, core, cross bands and face veneer
Shortage of raw materials have forced many wood based
industries to operate below their installed production MATERIALS AND METHODS
capacities. In such situations, the Forest research
laboratories are working on to identify various fast growing Melia dubia logs sourced from Hunsur and Periyapatana
plantation timber species which can substitute the timber region were sawn using through and through technique as
from natural forests as raw material source for wood based this technique yields more timber with minimal losses
panel industries on the other hand, wood based panel during sawing operation. The sawn pieces were subjected
industry oriented research institutes are working on to to air seasoning to bring down its moisture content slowly
make most use of the plantation timbers by reducing the to 10% in order to avoid warping, bending and cracking of
wastage. Melia dubia is one such fast growing plantation the sawn pieces. If the quantity of timber to be seasoned
timber species which is suitable for producing panel is sufficiently large enough to be accommodated in
Block Board from Melia dubia
 Int. J. For. Wood Sci. 98

seasoning chambers, then seasoning schedules needs to i.e., sodium hydroxide, at a temperature of 82oC for about
be worked out in order to avoid defects arising due to rapid 90 minutes. The resin thus prepared had a flow time of 24
removal of moisture. The planks thus obtained were seconds when measured in IS 3944, (1982) - B4 flow cup
subjected to ripping in a multiple rip saw and reduced in to and a solid content of about 49% at ambient temperature.
battens of thickness and width of approximately 26.5 mm. The conventional resin formulation was adopted in this
These battens were assembled between the edge strips of study.
width 45 mm and thickness 26.5 mm in such a manner to
avoid significant gaps and where the strips were smaller, MANUFACTURE OF BLOCK BOARD
the joints were staggered. Melia dubia veneers of
thickness 1.6 mm were used as cross bands on both the A core of size 2440 mm X 1300 mm X 26.5 mm (Length X
sides of the core and rotary peeled Melia dubia veneer of Width X Thickness) was prepared using the battens of
0.5 mm was used as face veneers on both the surfaces. A Melia dubia, rotary peeled Melia dubia veneers of
typical construction of block board is shown in figure 3. thickness 1.6 mm coated with Phenol formaldehyde (PF)
resin was used as cross bands on either side and rotary
PHENOL FORMALDEHYDE RESIN peeled veneer of Melia dubia was used as face veneer on
both the surface. The assembly was subjected to hot
Adhesive selection begins by considering the types of pressing at 1450C with a specific pressure of 14 kg/cm 2 for
wood adhesives, along with their strength and durability, a time duration of 20 mins. The board was allowed to
preparation and use characteristics, and typical stabilize for 24 hours after pressing. The board was
applications. Phenol-formaldehyde is a fully exterior subjected to trimming and sanding to obtain a block board
(withstands long-term water soaking and drying) based of dimensions 2383mm X 1237mmX28mm (Lenght X
resin (Vick C B., 1999). The properties of Phenolic resin width X Thickness).
are they possess high dry and wet strength; very resistant
to water and damp atmospheres; more resistant than RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
wood to high temperatures and chemical aging. They are
the primary adhesive for exterior softwood plywood, flake TESTING
board, hardboard and other such wood based panels. For
this study 100 parts of phenol and 180 parts of formalin of The block board produced was subjected to tests as per
37 percent formaldehyde were charged into a resin IS 1659 (2004) and the results of the tests are tabulated in
reactor. Reaction was carried out in presence of a catalyst the table 1.

TEST RESULTS
Table 1: Test results as per IS:1659-2004 for Block board from Melia dubia
S/No Test Prescribed Value Results
1 Dimensions Tolerance
a) Length + 6mm – 0 mm 0
b) Width + 3mm – 0 mm +1
c) Thickness ± 5% + 2.4 %
d) Variation in thickness Max 0.5 mm 0.4 mm
e) Squareness (%) Max 0.2% 0.05
f) Edge straightness (%) Max 0.2% 0.05
2 Surface Defects As per clause 6.3.3 conforms
3 Dimensional Changes caused by humidity
a) Changes in length, mm
From 65% RH to 90% RH ±1 + 0.31
From 65% RH to 40% RH ±1 - 0.24
b) Changes in Thickness, mm
From 65% RH to 90% RH ±1 +0.27
From 65% RH to 40% RH ±1 -0.61
c) Local planeness < 1/150 1/178.8
d) At extreme ranges of humidity No delamination No delamination
4 Adhesion of Plies (Knife Test) Min. Pass Standard Pass Std
5. Resistance to water (72 hr boiling) Min. Pass Standard Pass Std
7 Modulus of elasticity, N/mm2
a) Average 5000 7446
b) Minimum individual 4200 6865
8 Modulus of rupture, N/mm 2
a) Average 50 58.7
b) Minimum individual 42 45.2
Block Board from Melia dubia
Singh et al 99

CONCLUSION

From the above discussions it is evident that block boards

manufactured from Melia dubia is conforming to IS:1659 –
2004, the Indian Standards for Block boards and can be
concluded that Melia dubia is suitable for manufacture of
block board. Since it is a fast growing species that can be
grown in a wide range of climatic conditions and as an
encouraging number of farmers are taking up Melia dubia
plantations, this species can be regarded as the need of
the hour for ensuring uninterrupted supply of raw materials
for wood based panel industries. Farmers can be greatly
Figure 4 – Graph showing Min. Standard Value and benefitted by taking up Melia dubia plantations as it
Obtained value of MoE supports them economically with good returns for minimal
planting and maintenance expenditure involved. This
study may be further extended to find the suitability of
Melia dubia for producing flush door.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This paper is being published with the kind permission of

the Director, IPIRTI, Bengaluru.

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Accepted 24 June 2020

Citation: Singh MP, Prakash V, Uday DN, Sujatha D,

Kiran MC, Narasimhamurthy (2020). Block Board from
Melia dubia. International Journal of Forestry and Wood
Science, 7(2): 096-100.

Copyright: © 2020 Singh et al. This is an open-access

article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original author and source are cited.

Block Board from Melia dubia