The durability of OSB composite plywood with avocado, mahogany, and pine wood veneers against drywood and subterranean termites

Abstract

Biological decay agent is one threat should be anticipated when designing the building materials. This research is conducted to examine the composite plywood’s (comply’s) durability against drywood and subterranean termites’attacks. The veneers used are those made of Avocado (Persea americana), Mahogany (Swietenia mahogany) and Pine (Pinus merkusii) wood. Those three veneer types may be used to overlay the Oriented Strand Board’s (OSB’s) face and back part. The comply made then fed to both main biological decay agents in Indonesia, namely drywood termites (in the labouratory) and subterranean termites (grave yard test). The research results show that the comply’s durability is increasing against both drywood and soil termites respectively by 41.3% and 71.58%. This research shows that ME comply type (mahogany veneer, isocyanate adhesive) is the comply with the best durability against both biological decay agents’ attacks. This research result is expected to provide various benefits for material efficiency and energy conservation activity supports.