Lignocellulosic medium density fiberboards without synthetic adhesives: properties enhancement through the addition of cellulose nanofibers

Sustainable, green and environmental friendly materials for various applications are receiving increased attention, while the demand of forest products, including softwoods, hardwoods, and mixtures of different wood species is also increasing. As the biomass from crops has similar chemical composition to that of hardwoods, it could be used to as a substitute for wood fiber in the production of wood-plastic composites. Abdul Khalil et al [1] reported that the incorporation of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) into other polymers is an important strategy for producing nanocomposites with higher mechanical performance. The present work aims to develop medium density fiberboard (MDF) made from thermomechanical pulp (TMP) of corn biomass reinforced with eucalyptus nanofibers. The main purpose of the research is to enhance the mechanical properties of binderless corn MDF , relative to commercial MDF.