Keywords: 
• wood science /
• reed stem /
• characteristics /
• particleboard /
• waterproofing agent

Abstract: Reed is a natural biological material and has great potential as reinforced material in wood-based composites. To resolve the problem of low bond strength with reed particleboard，the reed （Phragmites australis） stem epidermis was analyzed with a scanning electron microscope （SEM） and infrared spectrometer. Microstructure and chemical composition were determined，and then the silicon mass fraction and the surface contact angle of the reed stem were tested. Finally，the effect of waterproofing agent on the physical and mechanical properties of reed particleboard was studied. Results showed that the reed stem epidermis contained a wax layer and silicon with the mass fraction of the silicon reaching 20.9 gkg－1. The physical and mechanical properties met the demands of National Standards （GB/T 4897.3－2003） without adding waterproofing agent. When waterproofing agent was added，the physical and mechanical properties，especially internal bond strength，decreased greatly. Thus，silicon from the reed stem epidermis produced by reed particles dispersed in plate slap after mechanical shattering could be used as water repellent meaning it was possible to manufacture qualified particleboard using urea-formaldehyde resin adhesive without adding waterproofing agent.［Ch，5 fig. 3 tab. 11 ref.］