Laboratory experiments on the use of recycled newsprint in wood composites

This study is an attempt to find some clues to the reduction of board properties resulting from the addition of recycled newsprint to medium-density board furnishes. Boards, both medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboards (wet and dry), were made from newsprint fiber extracted from the newsprint manufacturing process, as well as from recycled newsprint fibers. It was found that paper fibers make poor medium-density boards but acceptable high-density boards. Additional experiments explored the potential of three-layer boards with high-density newsprint faces on MDF and particle cores. The results appear promising.