Effect ofNano-Copper Oxide on Decay Resistance of Pistachio Twig-Plastic Composite

IRG/WP 19-30750

M R M Farahani,S Pourabdollah

The goal of our study was to investigate the decay resistance of pistachio twig-plastic composite treated with nano-copper oxide against the white rot fungus Trametes versicoloer and the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana. For this purpose, wood–polypropylene composites (WPCs) containing different loadings of nano-copper oxide, namely 0, 1, 2 and 3 percent (W/W), were made from pistachio (Pistacia vera L) twigs using a batch method. After being subjected to five cycles of boiling/oven-drying, the WPCs, were exposed to the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor (Linneaus) Lloyed (CTB 863 A) and the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana ( Schumacher ex fries) Karesten (BAM Ebw. 15) in a soil block decay test for three months in accordance with a modified ASTM D1413 test standard. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the WPCs exposed to decay and to study the distribution of nano-copper oxide in the composite. No clear evidence of the sever agglomeration of nano-copper oxide at a loading of 3% (W/W) was obtained using SEM. The results showed that nano-copper oxide enhanced the decay resistance of the composite against the fungi so that the weight loss (WL) due to decay decreased as the loading increased. Noticeable differences in WL due to decay were observed between the fungi for all the composites. The WLs due to decay by the brown rot fungus were higher than those by the white rot fungus. Copper oxalate crystals were detected in the composite containing 3% nano-copper exposed to C. puteana but they were seemed to have been produced in low amounts.


Keywords: Nano-copper oxide, Pistachio twig-plastic composite, Coniophora puteana, Trametes versicolor

Conference: 19-05-12/16 Quebec City, Canada


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