The resistance to Basidiomycetes fungi of chipboard 35 years after their industrial preservation with wood preservative on fluoroborate basis

IRG/WP 11-40546

A Fojutowski, A Kropacz

The research on wood-based panels’ (WBP) behaviour towards fungi impact demonstrated rather low resistance of wood-based materials to wood rotting fungi. However, these materials are used in construction under conditions favourable to fungi growth. In such conditions WBP treated with wood preservatives should be used. Preservation durability is of great importance in such cases. The resistance of single-layer 18 mm thick particleboard preserved during manufacture with wood preservative on fluoroborate basis in 1976 (=FPB) to attack of pure culture of brown or white rot fungi was tested after 35 years since its preservation. Currently manufactured particleboard (PB) made with the use of urea-formaldehyde (UF) glue and oriented strand board (OSB) made using polymeric methylene di-phenyl-di-isocyanate (PMDI) glue were tested for comparison. The criterion of assessment of WBP resistance to fungi attack was mass loss caused by the fungi and determined in a test according to PN-ENV 12038. The tested 35 years old FBF preserved against fungi was recently still much more resistant to fungi-caused decay (Coniophora puteana, Coriolus versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus, Gloeophyllum trabeum) than tested PB and OSB. The preservation was rated as durable; however, some symptoms of strength reduction of FBF were observed.


Keywords: basidiomycetes, fungi, particle board, decay, preservation, durability

Conference: 11-05-08/12 Queenstown, New Zealand


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