Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Abstract The study investigated the effect of the modification of phenolic resin with organic acid esters, such as ethyl, butyl and pentyl acetates, on the possibility to lower pressing temperature of particleboards manufactured using ester-modified PF resin. Conducted tests showed that the applied modification of phenolic resin makes it possible, within the adopted range of pressing temperatures, to produce particleboards with considerably better mechanical properties. It also needs to be stressed that at lower pressing temperatures the effect of the applied modification is so intense that boards pressed at 160°C obtain strength values comparable or even higher than those of the control board pressed at 180°C.