Optimization of Pressing Temperature and Pressing Time Sweet Sorghum Bagasse Moulding Bonded by Sucrose-Citric Acid Binder
摘要
Agricultural residues such as sweet sorghum bagasse are potentially used for mouldings materials. This study analysed the optimum pressing temperature and time for manufacturing sweet sorghum bagasse mouldings (SSB-moulding). The binder was prepared by mixing sucrose with citric acid with a composition of 90:10 (wt.%), and the sucrose-citric acid content used in this study was 20% of the total air-dried weight of the sorghum bagasse powder. The dumbbell-shaped moulding was manufactured with three different pressing temperatures: 180, 200, 220 °C, and different pressing times of 8, 10, and 12 min. The pressing time in this study did not significantly affect SSB-moulding’s physical and mechanical properties. Meanwhile, the pressing temperature affected the properties of SSB-moulding. The mechanical properties of SSB-moulding increased together with increasing pressing temperature. The optimum pressing temperature and time were obtained in the SSB-moulding pressed at 200 °C for 12 min based on the physical and mechanical properties.