Studies on the durability of wood-cement particleboards produced with residues of Pinus spp., silica fume, and rice husk ash

Wood-cement composites were considered as substitutes for wood or asbestos cement. This research is focused on the development, characterization, and durability of different wood-cement particle boards composed of wood waste [residual particles of pine species (Pinus spp.)], with silica fume or rice husk ash. The wood-cement panels produced by cold compression were evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties after accelerated and natural weathering for 28 and 91 days of curing, respectively. Results indicate that the performance of wood-cement panels containing the Pinus spp. residue was comparable to that of lignocellulosic aggregate in wood cement panels. Pine residue wood panels exhibited high levels of pozzolanic activity, suggesting that silica fume or rice husk ash could be used as a partial substitute in Portland cement. There was a significant loss of mechanical properties over time with both the reference panel and the panel produced with pozzolana. Although there was no direct correlation between the values of accelerated weathering tests and natural weathering tests, there was a larger degradation of the panels after 20 cycles of the accelerated weathering than that after 12 months of natural weathering. Morphology studies supported the observed results.