ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of using orange and banana peels as alternatives to wood-based particleboard composites. The orange and banana peels composite boards were produced by compressive molding using recycled low density polyethylene (RLDPE) as binder. The RLDPE was varied from 30 to 70wt% with interval of 10wt%. For each agro wastes, two different boards were developed from 420μm and 710μm particle sizes. The microstructure, water absorption (WA), thickness swelling index (TS), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), internal bonding strength (IB), impact strength, and hardness values of the boards were determined. From the results, boards produced using 710μm size orange particles at 60wt%RLDPE gave best physico-mechanical properties as follows: modulus of rupture of 11.65MPa, MOE of 2400MPa, IB of 0.60MPa, and hardness value of 5.17HBR. The uniform distribution of the agro-waste particles and the RLDPE in the microstructure of the composites is the major factor responsible for the improvement in the mechanical properties. Equally, the MOE, MOR and IB meet the minimum requirements of the European standards (BS EN 312:2003) for general purpose like paneling, ceiling, partitioning. Hence, orange and banana particles can be used as a substitute to wood-based particleboard for general purpose applications with a minimum cost of production.