An environmental-friendly lumber-like product from date palm leaves' midribs

Date palm leaves' midribs (DPLM) are available in huge quantities as a biproduct of the annual pruning of palms in the Arab countries. Previous research has proven the possibility of use of DPLM strips, glued with urea formaldehyde (UF), in a lumber-like product enjoying physical and mechanical properties matching those of conventional wood. Research was conducted to evaluate the glue bond strength of animal glue (AG) as compared with UF. Lumber-like blocks (LLB) were manufactured from air-dried DPLM strips 10/spl times/10 mm cross-section using AG in a test rig. The mechanical properties in static bending (MOR and MOE) and compressive strength were determined for LLB. The values compare well with those for known commercial wood species (e.g., spruce wood), as well as LLB, glued with UF. This opens the way for the use of agricultural residues to produce an environmentally friendly product as a substitute for sawn timber.