Physical properties of particleboard exposed to the kitchen environment in selected areas of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor

Kitchen cabinet main material, particleboard has shown some problems in quality during installation. The physical properties of the particleboard panel were tested for its moisture content, density and dimensional changes. In collaboration with Signature Kitchen Sdn. Bhd., twenty-eight (28) houses in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were selected for the assessment. Six particleboard panels chose randomly from the twenty-eight sites were cut into specific dimension and exposed to the air-conditioned room environment (20°C and 65% RH) and on-site condition (31.3°C and 72% RH). Overall, moisture content was 7.73%, which is 40% lower than the maximum requirement and the density of the panel was 14% higher than the standard requirement. Meanwhile, the dimensional changes in thickness were 81% higher than length. In length, the mean changes was just 0.07 mm compared to the thickness, 0.36 mm. Therefore, all panels collected and tested have met the moisture content, density and dimensional changes specifications under the testing procedures defined by European Union (EN) standard BS EN 312:2003.