Wood-based composites exposed to fungal degradation: Laboratory results

IRG/WP 01-40215

V W Yang, B Illman, L A Ferge, R J Ross

Oriented strandboard (OSB) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) are widely used as residential construction materials. The durability of OSB and LVL against biological degradation has not been studied comprehensively. The objective of this research was to investigate the durability of OSB and LVL when exposed to wood decay fungi. Fourteen brown-rot and eight white-rot wood decay fungi were screened for their capacity to degrade OSB and LVL. Samples were evaluated for decay by weight loss measurements using the American Society for Testing and Materials D1413-76 soil block test method. Results revealed that the brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum (Mad-617) and the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (Mad-697) degraded OSB to a greater extent than solid southern yellow pine wood. Both fungi degraded LVL to a much lesser extent than OSB. Our findings provide valuable information on the durability of OSB and LVL, to predict serviceability and protection requirements of these construction materials.


Keywords: OSB; LVL; FUNGAL DEGRADATION

Conference: 01-05-20/25 Nara, Japan


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