Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Powder in Particleboard Production: Epoxy as a Formaldehyde-Free Adhesive Alternative

Authors

  • Antonio José Santos Junior Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil; Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9868-4900
  • Marjorie Perosso Herradon Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil; Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9284-1023
  • Laíssa Gabriele dos Santos Simião Department of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Architecture, Arts, Communication and Design of Bauru São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, 17033-360, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0653-2416
  • Vitória Bortolotti de La Libera Department of Architecture and Urbanism, School of Architecture, Arts, Communication and Design of Bauru São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Av. Eng. Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, 17033-360, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4333-5177
  • Denise Luisa Chotolli Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3195-9946
  • Lucas Zacharias Tavares Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1022-1435
  • Fernanda Viviani Reggiani Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8139-5041
  • Mariela Auxiliadora Garcia Ciocca Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3346-9003
  • Marcus Vinícius Moreira da Silva Cassales Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2418-3311
  • Pedro Manoel da Silva Neto Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2418-3311
  • Pedro Henrique da Silva Cazella Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9323-808X
  • Matheus Viana de Souza Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering, Federal University of Western Pará – (Ufopa), R. Universitário, S/N - Maria Magdalena, Itaituba - PA, 68183-300, Itaituba, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1867-3249
  • Rodrigo Andraus Bispo Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8320-6490
  • André Luis Christoforo Department of Engineering of Structures, School of Engineering of São Carlos, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235, São Carlos, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4066-080X
  • Sergio Augusto Mello da Silva Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Al. Bahia, 550, 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6114-0283

Keywords:

Particleboard, Recycled PET powder, Epoxy resin

Abstract

This study investigated the production of particleboards by incorporating recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) powder into Pinus spp. particles, using epoxy resin as an adhesive at 5% and 10% levels. The panels were manufactured and tested in accordance with ABNT NBR 14810-2 (2024) and further evaluated under EN 312 (2003) and ANSI A208.1 (2016) standards. The results demonstrated that both the increase in adhesive content and the incorporation of PET powder contributed to significant improvements. Compared with literature data on panels without PET, the addition of recycled PET reduced moisture content (MC), thickness swelling (TS), and water absorption (WA) by about 29% and promoted mechanical gains of up to 33% in modulus of elasticity (MOE), 31% in modulus of rupture (MOR), and 133% in internal bond strength (IB). Increasing epoxy from 5% to 10% further enhanced performance, with reductions of 46.3% in TS and 49% in WA after 24 h, and increments of 57.1% in MOR, 68% in MOE, and 104.3% in IB. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed improved encapsulation of wood and PET particles with 10% adhesive. These findings point to a viable circular-economy route by upcycling plastic waste and wood residues into higher-value particleboards while avoiding added formaldehyde.

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Published

2026-01-31

How to Cite

Santos Junior, A. J., Herradon, M. P., Simião , L. G. dos S., La Libera , V. B. de, Chotolli, D. L., Tavares, L. Z., … Silva, S. A. M. da. (2026). Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Powder in Particleboard Production: Epoxy as a Formaldehyde-Free Adhesive Alternative. BioResources, 21(1), 2474–2483. Retrieved from https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/25108

Issue

Vol. 21 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication