The study investigates the use of Recycled Polystyrene (RP) in the production of particleboard. Boards of 6mm thickness with dimension of 350 mm x 350 mm were produced from mixture of Cocos nucifera stem particles and RP. The boards were made at varying mixing ratio of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 and board densities of 1000 kg/m3 1100 kg/m3 and 1200 kg/m3. Thickness swelling (TS), Water Absorption (WA), Modulus of Rupture, and Modulus of Elasticity of the boards were evaluated in accordance to ASTM D-1037 standard. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 5% probability level. TS and WA decreases as the mixing ratio increases from 1:1 to 3:1 and board density increases from 1000 kg/m3 to 1200 kg/m3. Also, MOR and MOE of boards increase as the board density was increased from 1000 kg/m3 to 1200 kg/m3. However, MOR and MOE of boards initially increase as mixing ratio increases from 1:1 to 2:1 and later decreases with further increase in mixing ratio. The strongest and most dimensionally stable board was produced at board 1200 kg/m3 and mixing ratio 2:1. This study proves that RP is a good substitute for formaldehyde based resin commonly used in particle boards industries.

Musanga cecrepoides is an interesting wood species due to its diverse utility ranging from medicine, shade, ornaments etc. Research has been conducted on other properties of this wood species with little information about its acoustic properties. Thus, the evaluation of its acoustic properties is pertinent so as to increase the information bank of its properties. This study assessed the acoustic properties of Musanga cecrepoides wood obtained from selected states and locations in the Niger Delta region of Nigerian viz a vis, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States. Test samples were collected from different stem positions axially (top, middle, base) and radially (inner and outer) and analyzed using the statistical software package IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 23 (IBM Corporation, New York, USA). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed at 5% level of significance to determine whether the assessed acoustic properties were significantly different among different stem positions. Results showed that sound frequency (f) at top wood (3061.71 Hz) and outer wood (3096.06 Hz) had significantly higher resonance frequency compared with the bottom wood (2768.01 Hz) and inner wood (2349.54 Hz) respectively. The mean sound velocity (v) at both the axial (2069.59 m/s) and radial (1905.96 m/s) stem positions fell short of the estimated mean v of other wood species when compared. However, such result is suitable for other acoustic purposes with moderate sound velocity. The sound radiation coefficient (R) values were highest at the bottom (4.18) axially and outer (4.13) radially when compared to other stem orientations of the wood. Whereas axially at the top (1561815.86 Kg/(m²s)) and radially at the outer position (1558292.53 Kg/(m²s) Sound Impedance (z) was highest when compared with other stem positions of the Musanga cecrepoides wood.