Journal of Engineering Research and Reports

Olivine and dolomite addition with some formulations clearly retarded the water absorption change in both bark (Type 1 boards) and cone (Type 2 boards) based experimental panels. However, the lowest water absorption value of 15.20% was found in dolomite contain (40:60, dolomite-bark chip, w/w, %) sample which show approximately 169.6% lower than olivine contain sample at similar proportions. However, it is important to note that Type 1 boards show considerably lower water absorption than Type 2 boards at similar experimental conditions. The boards which produced with 10-, 20-, and 30% dolomite and 90-, 80-, 70% bark chips (XBI, XBII and XBIII) proportions, show higher thickness swelling (TS, %) than control (B0) while rest of show lower TS than control samples, regardless of type of mineral or experimental conditions. The highest TS improvement of -79.1% was found with sample of YBV which produced with equally (1:1, w/w) proportions olivine and pine cone chips in matrix. It is noticeable that dolomite addition to Type 1 boards are usually effects higher IB values than olivine added samples while the highest IB value of 0.72 MPa was found with sample of XBV. Moreover, only sample of XBII (20% dolomite and 80% pine bark chip in boards proportions, w/w) show higher MOR strength value (4.42 MPa) than control (B0: 3.63 MPa), regardless of mineral content. In Type 2 boards, all experimental panels that prepared with two different mineral addition at five loading levels show lower MOR values than control (C0: 6.59 Mpa). It is also realized that both Type 1 and 2 type experimental panels show lower elastic property (MOE) than control samples (B0: 1129.3 MPa: C0: 820.1).