Effects of water soaking and outdoor exposure on nail joint properties of particleboard

Phenol-formaldehyde resin-bonded particleboard (PF board) and isocyanate resin-bonded particleboard (MDI board) were soaked in water at 40, 70 and 100 °C, and the relationships between soaking conditions and nail joint properties were analyzed. The soaking time to reach the lower limit of nail-head pull-through (NHPT) of the PF board was 2 h at 100 °C, while it took 168 h at 70 °C. The soaking time to reach the lower limit of lateral nail resistance (LNR) of the PF board was 24 h at 100 °C, but it did not take 168 h at 70 °C to reach it. The lower limits of NHPT and LNR for the MDI board were higher than those for the PF board. For the PF board, there was a high correlation between modulus of rupture, internal bond strength and nail joint properties. Based on the results of water soaking and outdoor exposure, it was shown that thickness change has a significant effect on NHPT and LNR, and that the reduction in NHPT and LNR results from the collapse of bonding points owing to swelling of the board.