Abstract:
Large quantities of leather solid wastes are generated by leather industries and these wastes
are either thrown away or dumped in open lands causing environmental issues. Wet blue
leather solid wastes are biologically resistant as a result of complexation between chromium
(III) salts and the carboxyl groups of collagens. Chrome shavings waste is one of the highly
generated solid wastes and there is no proper utilization of these huge amount of waste.
Preparation of leather boards from chrome shavings waste is economical and helps in
reducing environmental pollution. Incorporating waste papers into the preparation of
particleboards enhances the mechanical and physical properties. The aim of this study was
to design and produce a particle board from leather shavings and waste papers through the
compression method, to determine the effects of resin content, blend ratio and fat treatment
of particles on the properties of the board as well as to characterize the physical and
mechanical properties of the fabricated board. The leather and paper waste were blended in
ratios of 1:1, 1:3 and 3:1 and moulded into particleboard using a cold hydraulic press. A two
variable parameter design was used to determine the effects they have on properties of
fabricated board. The particulars of leather shavings included 4.4 pH, 10.3% moisture
content, 80.6% volatile matter and 2.7% chromium. The resulting fabricated board was
characterized by density in the range 1089 to 1379 kg/m 3 . The moisture content of the board
varied between 1.3% and 5.5% while water absorption was between 1.8% to 6.3%. The
internal bond strength was at the range of 2.82 to 16.56 MPa, Modulus of Rupture (MOR)
from 10.06 to 21.05 MPa and modulus of elasticity was ranging between 3.054-6.094 GPa.
Finally, the maximum and minimum impact strength was 67 KJ/m 2 and 32.33 KJ/m 2 ,
respectively. From the results of this study it was concluded that leather shavings and waste
papers can be used as alternative raw materials for particleboard production and that physical
and mechanical properties were depended on the resin content and the blend ratio. Particle
treatment had positive effects on the properties of the particleboard. Future work should
study the effects of more parameters on particleboard and do optimization studies on
production of particleboard. In addition, further study is required on microscopy to determine
bonding between particles and hence how bonding affects board properties.