Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the decay resistance of particleboards treated with nano- zinc oxide against the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor and the brown-rot species Coniophora puteana. The nanomaterial was used for manufacturing particleboards at 5, 10 and 15% wt based on the glue dry weight. The soil block decay test was performed according to ASTM D 1413 (2007) using a 12 weeks incubation period. The results showed that all treated boards had good resistance against the decay fungi and the weight loss decreased in the samples with increasing nanomaterial loading. The threshold level of treated boards against fungal decay was obtained about 21% and 17% nano-ZnO against C. puteana and T. versicolor, respectively. Therefore, it had a positive effect on increasing particleboard resistance against the fungi. The maximum decay resistance (or minimum weight loss) occurred in the samples containing 15% zinc oxide nanoparticles.
Highlights
Wood is naturally made and consists of carbon hydrates and lignin in its structure
The sample resistance against the white-rot fungus significantly increased with increment of nano-ZnO loading and the minimum weight loss (WL) occurred in the samples containing 15% nano-ZnO that was approximately 15 times lower than the untreated sample WL
The untreated sample WL due to Trametes versicolor was more than Coniophora puteana
Summary
Wood is naturally made and consists of carbon hydrates and lignin in its structure. It can be destroyed by different factors such as UV rays, fungi, beetles, ants, marine borers and chemicals (Schmidt 2006). This fact decreases its durability in the wooden structures. The use of fungicides and insecticides has been met some limitations due to the environmental problems and the researchers are looking for alternative safe chemicals to increase the wood durability along with minimum damage to the environment (Dorau et al 2004, Rezaei and Parsapajouh 2004). The two main reasons why materials at the nanoscale can have different properties are increased relative surface area and new quantum effects. Nanomaterials have a much greater surface area to volume ratio than their conventional forms, which can lead to greater chemical reactivity and affect their strength
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