Laboratory experiments on the use of recycled newsprint in wood composites

This study is an attempt to find some clues to the reduction of board prope rties resulting from the addition of recycled newsprint to medium-density b oard furnishes. Boards, both medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboards (wet and dry), were made from newsprint fiber extracted from the newsprint manufacturing process, as well as from recycled newsprint fibers. It was f ound that paper fibers make poor medium-density boards but acceptable high- density boards. Additional experiments explored the potential of three-laye r boards with high-density newsprint faces on MDF and particle cores. The r esults appear promising.