Abstract
The effect of wood/plastic ratio and the presence of a boron compound on resistance to biodegradation of wood plastic composites (WPC's) by the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum was investigated in a soil block exposure. Weight losses of all WPC's were generally lower than those of solid wood, even when only the wood component of the WPC was used in calculating weight loss. Higher wood content was associated with greater weight losses, suggesting that the plastic encapsulated wood at lower wood levels. Borates markedly reduced weight losses at all wood/plastic ratios. Weight losses tended to be slightly lower with a Na/Ca borate than with similar levels of zinc borate. Mechanical properties did not correlate well with weight losses under the conditions evaluated, but these effects may have been masked by moisture sorption. The causes and implications of these differences are discussed.
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