Natural durability of coconut palm trunk chipboards

Abstract

The agglomerate chipboard (AC) industry has traditionally used discarded pine wood, and occasionally sugar cane mash, as raw materials. Research has been conducted in order to incorporate non-traditional raw materials in the manufacture of chipboards, taking care that the physical-mechanical properties of the new boards do not detract from those of traditional boards. AC resistance to biodeterioration is a phenomenon that has not been researched before. The aim of this work was to study the durability of the ACs made of coconut husk fibers (CHFAC) and coconut trunk fibers (CPTAC) against attack by fungi in terms of the ASTM Standard (D-2017-71). This methodology is commonly used to determine the weight loss and dimensional changes of solid wood blocks (2.5 x 2.5 cm) against fungal attack within the incubator (65-70 % HR, 26-27 °C) during 16 weeks. In this work the propagation method of the fungi was changed from soil-block to agar-block (malt dextrose agar –MDA– and potato dextrose agar –PDA). A commercial pine wood chipboard (PWAC) was used. Three brown-rot and three white-rot fungi were used (Laetiporus sulphureus, Neolentinus suffrutescens, Postia placenta and Phanerochaete chrysosporium respectively). Results show that both CHFACs and CPTACs were resistant to attack by the four fungi studied in terms of weight loss, owing to the particular properties of the tested lingnocellulosic materials.