Application of laboratory fungal resistance tests to solid wood and wood-plastic composite

Craig M. Clemons; Rebecca E. Ibach

Treesearch

Application of laboratory fungal resistance tests to solid wood and wood-plastic composite

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Craig M. Clemons, Rebecca E. Ibach

Year:

2003

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

Source:

Plastics in building construction. Vol. 27, no. 2 (Feb. 2003): pages 7-14

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Abstract

The fungal resistance of high density polyethylene filled with 50% wood flour was investigated using laboratory soil block tests. Modifications to standard test methods were made to increase initial moisture content, increase exposure surface area, and track moisture content, mechanical properties, and weight loss over the exposure period. Mechanical properties decreased after 12 weeks exposure to Gloeophyllum trabeum and Trametes versicolor. However, irreversible damage due to water sorption made separating the effects of fungal attack and water sorption difficult. When compared on a dry basis, small weight reductions after fungal exposure suggest some attack by G. trabeum. Further modifications to test methodology are suggested.

Keywords

Plastic-impregnated wood, absorption, adsorption, wood, mechanical properties, wood-decaying fungi, biodegradation, polyethylene, moisture, wood flour, soil-block testing, weight of wood, surface area, Trametes versicolor, decay fungi, wood-plastic materials, resistance to decay, Gloephyllum trabeum

Citation

Clemons, Craig Merrill; Ibach, Rebecca E. 2003. Application of laboratory fungal resistance tests to solid wood and wood-plastic composite. Plastics in building construction. Vol. 27, no. 2 (Feb. 2003): pages 7-14