Resistance of Chip Block Pallet from Teak Wood Particle against Decay Fungi and Subterranean Termites

Alessandro Geovani Damanik (Department of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University)
Dede Hermawan (Department of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University)
Sukma Surya Kusumah (Research Center for Biomass and Bioproduct, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Ikhsan Guswenrivo (Research Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Deni Zulfiana (Research Center for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Wida Banar Kusumaningrum (Research Center for Biomass and Bioproduct, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Lisman Suryanegara (Research Center for Biomass and Bioproduct, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Riska Surya Ningrum (Research Center for Biomass and Bioproduct, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))
Iman Hidayat (Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN))

Jurnal Sylva Lestari
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2023): May

Wood biomass such as sawdust, particles, and chip obtained wood industry can be used as raw material for chip block pallets (CBP). This study evaluated the resistance of chip block pallets made from teak-sawn waste and polyurethane adhesive against decay fungi (white-rot and brown-rot fungi) and subterranean termites. The CBPs with dimensions of 9 × 9 × 9 cm and a target density of 0.6 g/cm3 were cold pressed at 9.8 MPa for 4 h using several polyurethane concentrations and composition of particle sizes. The termite and decay resistance tests were conducted following JIS K 1571 2004. The results showed that CBP treated with different polyurethane concentrations and composition of particle sizes was resistant to subterranean termite attacks. However, the CBP manufactured were not resistant to white-rot and brown-rot fungi attacks, showing more than 3% mass loss percentage. Considering the efficiency of polyurethane use, the study suggested the best content for using polyurethane in the manufacture of CBP is 4.5% with a particle size composition of 50 (4-14 mesh): 50 (> 60 mesh). Keywords: Biodeterioration, chip block pallet, polyurethane, teak wood particles