Improved Durability of Wood Strand-Based Panels Using Guayule

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Abstract

In this study, the effect of guayule resin on termite and fungal decay biological performances of wood strand-based (WSB) panels was explored. Guayule was applied using different methods to find the most effective one. Southern yellow pine (Pinus spp. L.) wood strands were mixed with phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin to a target resin content of 5.0% and hot-pressed to manufacture the control WSB panels. For the in-situ process, a guayule solution was prepared and sprayed on the pine wood strands immediately after spraying the PF resin to a target content of 5.0%. For brushing and spraying methods, a sub-set of the control panel specimens were further brushed or sprayed with the guayule solution on all surfaces, like a coating. To understand the effect of guayule on durability of these panels, specimens cut from control and treated panels were subjected to termite resistance and fungal degradation soil block tests. In-situ specimens having 5.0% guayule were subjected to tensile, internal bond, water absorption, and thickness swelling tests to find whether guayule affects the mechanical performance of WSB panels. The results showed that in-situ treatment resulted in significant reduction in mechanical properties of wood stand-based panels. The sprayed technique produced the most durable panels as mass loss reduced to 2.21% for termite and 3.24% for fungi specimens.

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