Projects

This project investigated how water exposure affects particleboard and how the material changes during drying. A standard 16 mm thick particleboard with a white veneer was partially submerged in a shallow water bath for 24 hours. The board was supported to ensure consistent positioning, and its thickness was measured near the edge where water ingress occurred. Swelling was monitored continuously during the wet phase and at regular intervals during drying. Rapid swelling occurred within the first few hours of water exposure, driven by capillary action inside the board. If the board was removed within the first three hours, the swelling was largely reversible. After approximately six hours, the damage became permanent. Maximum swelling was reached after about 24 hours, with the thickness increasing to approximately 20.5 mm. The board was then dried under ambient conditions for 14 days, during which the thickness slowly decreased. After drying, the board stabilized at a thickness of about 19 mm, indicating permanent structural damage despite retaining basic mechanical functionality.