International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 53 (2004) 1–5 www.elsevier.com/locate/ibiod Note Evaluation of the physical and biological properties of particleboard andakeboardmadefrom Cupressus spp Esmeralda Y.A. Okino * ,M arioR.deSouza,MarcosA.E.Santana,MarcusV.daS.Alves, MariaE.deSousa,DivinoE.Teixeira Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renov aveis-IBAMA, Laborat orio de Produtos Florestais-LPF, SAIN Av. L4 Lote 04, Bras lia 70818-900, Brazil Received 19 November 2002; accepted 13 May 2003 Abstract In this study, the biological resistance and physical–mechanical properties of laboratory made particleboard and akeboard using natural and acetylated particles and akes of cypress (Cupressus spp.), planted in Brazil, were examined. Boards with 10% urea–formaldehyde resin were pressed for 8 min at 160 ◦ C. The experimental design was a 2 2 complete factorial, with four replicates per treatment, totalling 16 single-layer panels of 550 × 500 × 13 mm with a mean density of 0:70 g cm -3 . The panels were cut into samples, and their physical and mechanical properties determined according to ASTM D 1037-96a standard. Cypress panels were tested in the laboratory for durability, according to ASTM D 2017-81. Control panels were classied as “resistant” when exposed to the brown-rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum, while the acetylation process improved the resistance of the cypress panels, which were subsequently classied as “highly resistant”. The same eect was observed for specimens exposed to the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Regarding mechanical properties, the manufactured cypress panels should be classied as grade M-3, according to ANSI A208.1, except for internal bond and modulus of elasticity of akeboards and particleboards, respectively. Dimensional stability of akeboards and particleboards was very low. Acetylated panels showed better physical but lower mechanical properties than the control panels. Swelling of acetylated cypress akeboards, after 2 and 24 h of water immersion, was lower than the maximum required by EN 312-4 standards. Cupressus spp. wood was shown to be very suitable to be processed into reconstituted panels. ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Trametes versicolor; Gloeophyllum trabeum; Biodegradation; Cypress; Urea-formaldehyde; Flakeboards; Particleboards; Physical–mechanical properties; Acetylation 1. Introduction The durability of particleboard panels has always been a major concern as demonstrated by the increasing use of chemicals for preserving against decay and termite attacks. Most of these panels are used indoors and the eects of the preservative components, released into the air, on human health is still unknown. Wood used for panel production is generally of low durability. The basic wood species used to ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +55-61-316-1510; fax: +55-61-225- 1182. E-mail addresses: okino@lpf.ibama.gov.br (E.Y.A. Okino), msouza@ lpf.ibama.gov.br (M.R. de Souza), marcos@lpf.ibama.gov.br (M.A.E. Santana), malves@lpf.ibama.gov.br (M.V. da S. Alves), eliete@lpf.ibama. gov.br (M.E. de Sousa), divinot@lpf.ibama.gov.br (D.E. Teixeira). make panels in Brazil are Pinus taeda, P. elliottii, and P. oocarpa, all of low durability. The idea of using a mixture of species for wood-based panels,includingsomeofhighnaturaldurability,isnotnew. Evans et al. (1997) tested cypress pine (Callitris glauco- phylla) and the results indicated that, although the mixture was not as durable as preserved particleboard, the durability signicantly increased when compared to the non-preserved panels. Other species have been tested with similar results (Thuja plicata, T. occidentalis, Larix laricina, Robinia pseudoacacia, among others). Cupressus lusitanica Mill., a multiuse tree species, has high potential for wood production in Brazil. Although it is not a native species, it grows well in south-east Brazil, with its high moisture and cold climate. It has been found that this is a very durable species with great potential to be processed into particleboard panels. 0964-8305/$-see front matter ? 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0964-8305(03)00105-7