<Original>Production Technology for Acetylated Low-density Particleboard (II) : Decay and Termite Resistance

Abstract

Low density particleboards made from control and acetylated chips at 17 percent acetyl weight gain using isocyanate adhesives, were subjected to standard decay tests, to bending-creep tests under fungal attack, and to termite tests. The rate of decay was slow in the boards containing 50 percent of acetylated chips causing smaller weight losses and reduced thickness swelling as compared to controls after exposure to fungal attack. The specimens containing 100 percent of acetylated chips showed no sign of decay. When exposed to fungal attack in bending-creep tests, the blended particle-boards of higher specific gravity maintained their strength longer than untreated controls, but all untreated specimens and blended boards of lighter specific gravity failed within a short time span. Acetylated boards containing 100 percent of treated chips showed little strength reduction after 100 days and very little additional deflection was seen after longer exposure. Though the weight losses by termite feeding were not so large as controls, acetylated boards were able to be attacked by the termite of Coptotermes formosanus. However, they were hardly attacked by Reticulitermes speratus.