Investigations the effects of fastener, glue, and composite material types on the strength of corner joints in case-type furniture construction

This study was carried out to determine the performance of different construction techniques on the diagonal compression and tension strength of case-type furniture corner joints, and to determine the effects on these joints of some factors including the type of joint, the type of composite board and the glue type. For this purpose, melamine-coated particleboard (MCP) and melamine-coated fiberboard (MCF) panels were bonded with polyvinyl acetate D3 (PVA D3), polyvinyl acetate D4 (PVA D4) and Desmodur VTKA (DVTKA) adhesives on spline joint (Sj), butt joints (Buj), biscuit joints (Bij), plain dowel joints (PDj), grooved dowel joints (GDj). It became evident that the diagonal tension and compression strength of the joints is influenced by panel material, type of adhesive and joints. The diagonal tension strength was greater than the diagonal compression strength of all L-type corner joints. The highest diagonal tension strength was obtained in MCF with DVTKA adhesive and GDj while highest diagonal compression strength was obtained in MCP with PVA D4 and Sj. In both tests, MCF corner joints were stronger than MCP corner joints. Furthermore, diagonal tension and compression strength of the joints glued with PVA D4 adhesive was higher than the similar joints glued with PVA D3 and DVTKA adhesives.