No abstract

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) produces a highly versatile fiber with a variety of uses, but it also produces sizable amounts of core materials that have fewer value-added applications. One possible use for the plant core is in plastic composites, but developing suitable interactions between the hydrophobic plastic and the hydrophilic kenaf core is difficult. In this study, the potential for using various kenaf core pre-treatments was explored using high-density polyethylene (HDPE). While the pre-treatments changed the pectin content and lignin content, the increase or decrease depended on the pre-treatment methods. Pretreatments of core particles with 1% NaOH for 60 min or 1% HCl for 30 min markedly improved the mechanical properties of a 60/40 kenaf/HDPE mixture, although the pre-treatment had little effect on resistance to fungal attack. The results suggest that pectinase enzyme or cellulase enzyme pretreatment time should be shortened to 30 min or 60 min.

No abstract

The effects of differing ratios of bamboo/plastic polymers on resistance to fungal attack was assessed using two different decay test methods. Weight losses for non-treated southern pine and Carpinus betulus sapwood blocks indicated that the test conditions were suitable for aggressive decay by Gloeophyllum trabeum and Trametes versicolor. Mass losses on the bamboo/composites tended to be very low, regardless of the method employed. In general, moisture levels in the composites were extremely low although they were close to the point where fungal attack could occur when only the bamboo components were considered. The standard decay tests indicated that bamboo can be considered a suitable substitute for wood flour in wood-plastic composites.

Air-seasoning is a simple method for moisture management in utility poles prior to treatment, but it involves the risk of fungal invasion during drying. These fungi can be eliminated by heat treatment, but fungi surviving in the installed poles are a quality problem. In this context, the incidence of decay fungi was investigated in 963 creosote-treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) poles of varying ages in a utility system in Ireland. Thirty-seven percent of increment cores removed from the poles contained at least one viable basidiomycete. There was no relationship between pole age or distance above the groundline and fungal isolations.Phlebiopsis gigantea, a white rot fungus, was the most common isolate followed byNeolentinus lepideusandSistotrema brinkmannii. The results highlight the importance of including a sterilizing process during treatment and maintaining quality controls when purchasing large numbers of poles.