Resistance of wood plastic composite produced by compression to termites Nasutitermes corniger (Motsch.) and Cryptotermes brevis (Walker)

Abstract

The resistance of wood plastic composite was evaluated for the xylophagous termites Nasutitermes corniger and Cryptotermes brevis. The panels were produced by compression, with proportions of wood (Pinus elliottii) and recycled thermoplastics of: T1 (50/50 Polyethylene terephthalate), T2 (50/50 High-density polyethylene), T3 (50/50 Polypropylene), T4 (50/50 Polyvinyl chloride), T5 (60/40 Polyethylene terephthalate), T6 (60/40 High-density polyethylene), T7 (60/40 Polypropylene), T8 (60/40 Polyvinyl chloride) and bonded with urea-formaldehyde. The N. corniger and C. brevis termite tests were performed adhering to the specific standards of wood biological resitance. the resistance of each treatment was evaluated in terms of the composite mass loss and termite mortality. There were no statistical differences between treatments 1 to 5 for the no-choice test with subterranean termites; treatment 3 showed the highest rate (9.2), with lower wear, as well as the higher mortality rate (88.6%) of the termites; this can be classified as high resistance. In relation to the other treatments, the dry wood termite test detected statistical differences for treatment 3 and offered the best results in terms of lower wear (0.47%), lower mass loss (0.63%) and 100% of mortality for 12 days. All treatments showed resistance to attack by termites indicating enhanced biological properties of the composite.