EFFECTS OF NANOPRODUCT APPLICATION ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PLYWOOD PANELS

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the physical properties of plywood panels treated with a silica-based nanoproduct, aiming to analyze the performance of the material before and after natural aging. The tests were performed using plywood panels of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby (Paricá), divided into two groups: with and without application of the nanoproduct. The properties of apparent density, water absorption, thickness swelling and humidity were evaluated. The analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant difference between the treatments before and after 120 days of natural aging, except for humidity, which presented average values ​​of 12.0% in the untreated specimens and 10.1% in the treated ones. The treated panels presented lower moisture content, suggesting that the nanoproduct contributed to the reduction of porosity and, consequently, of water absorption. Despite this, the other physical parameters did not demonstrate significant improvements, possibly due to the concentration used. The results demonstrate the potential of the nanoproduct to increase the moisture resistance of the panels, although additional studies on the formulation and exposure time are necessary to maximize its performance.