• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Indonesian log production is dominated by young trees harvested from plantation forests. The timber contains of sapwood and juvenile wood, which are not resistant to termite attack. Smoking treatment can enhance wood resistance to termite attack, but it also changes the color. Specimens of mangium (Acacia mangium) and sengon (Falcataria moluccana) wood were exposed for 1, 2, and 3 weeks to smoke produced from the pyrolysis of salam (Syzygium polyanthum) wood. The color change of the wood was measured using the CIELab method. In addition, wood specimens were exposed to subterranean termites (Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren) under laboratory conditions. Untreated and imidacloprid-preserved wood samples were also prepared for comparison purposes. The results showed that the color of smoked wood differed from that of untreated wood, and the color change for sengon was greater than for mangium. In addition, the 1-week smoking period changed the wood color less than the 2- and 3-week periods, which did not differ. Imidacloprid-preserved wood had distinctive color changes compared to untreated wood. Untreated mangium wood had moderate resistance to subterranean termite attack (resistance class III), while sengon had very poor resistance (resistance class V). Salam wood smoke enhanced wood resistance to termite attack, and smoke treatment of 1 week for mangium and 2 weeks for sengon resulted in the wood becoming very resistant (resistance class I). Both types of smoked wood were more resistant to subterranean termite attack than imidacloprid-preserved wood (average class II resistance).

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.331-342
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• 2024

Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) has excellent physical and mechanical properties and is one of the most widely used species in Southeast Asia. However, it has poor resistance to subterranean termite attacks due to its high sugar and starch contents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the termite resistance of experimental wood-plastic composite (WPC) panels manufactured from rubberwood flour, polyethylene terephthalate, and silica in three different weight ratios (1/2/7, 1/3/6, and 1/4/5). The panels were exposed to Coptotermes curvignathus subterranean termites in a no-choice test under laboratory conditions based on Indonesian standards. Solid rubberwood used as control samples presented poor resistance, exhibiting 23.1% weight loss due to subterranean termite attack, as indicated by low termite mortality and high wood weight loss. In contrast, the WPC samples demonstrated extreme resistance, with weight loss ranging from 0.19% to 0.23%. Based on the findings of this study, the high termite mortality and overall low mass loss of the samples indicate that such manufactured panels could provide a high level of protection with regard to Indonesian standards.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.451-458
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• 2019

Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.) is a fast-growing species that exhibits a lower natural resistance than that exhibited by the timber sourced from natural forests. Jabon's resistance to termite attack can be improved by impregnating its wood structure with poisonous organic materials. This study examined jabon's resistance to termite attack when impregnated with wood vinegar and an animal adhesive. The wood specimens were impregnated using sengon wood vinegar and an animal adhesive (8% and 10%, respectively) using a vacuum pressure machine. The specimens were tested for their resistance to subterranean and dry-wood termites according to Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7207-2014). The results denoted that jabon impregnated with wood vinegar and an animal adhesive concentration of at least 8% with the addition of 4% borate was effective to resist termite attacks. The impregnated jabon exhibited a lower weight loss and higher termite mortality when compared with those exhibited by the control specimens. Thus, the resistance class improved from class IV to class I.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.88-97
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• 2006

Wood flour (WF)-recycled polypropylene (RPP) composites composed of 50% WF of Eucalyptus deglupta Blume species, 50% RPP, various contents of maleic anhydride (MAH) modifier (0; 1; 2; 5; 5; 7.5; and lo%), and 15% dicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiator (based on MAH weight) were subjected to weather for 1 year and subterranean termite (Coptotermes cuwignathus HOLMGREN) and dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus LIGHT) for 3 and 4 weeks, respectively. WF-RPP composites with 2.5% MA modifier had tensile strength, breaking elongation and Young's modulus about 2.2, 2.3, and 1.2 times, respectively higher compared to MAH-free composites. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier had 5.5 times higher resistance to weather compared to RPP film alone. The color of the WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier became lighter after exposures to the weather. The WF-RPP composites with or without MAH modifier are resistant to subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus HOLMGREN and dry wood termite Cryptotermecs cynocephalus LIGHT under the experimental condition adopted.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.405-422
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• 2024

This study investigated the resistance of domestic wood species used as wood members in general wood construction and Korean wood cultural properties to the termite Reticulitermes speratus using no-choice and two-choice tests. The results of the no-choice experiment confirmed that hardwood has higher termite resistance than that of softwood. In addition, R. speratus prefers softwood, including Abies holophylla, which has low density, is easy to feed on, and does not contain repellent extracts. In a two-choice test, Zelkova serrata was found to be the most termite-resistant wood species used in wooden cultural buildings. In addition, we investigated the effects of different wood extraction methods and their components on termite resistance. The cold-water extraction of softwood increased the feeding activity of termites; however, the cold-water extraction of hardwood had little effect on the feeding activity of termites. In natural environments with repeated exposure to moisture, such as rainfall, water-soluble extracts present in wood species are relatively more likely to dissolve and removed, making softwood more likely to be damaged by termites than hardwood. Untreated Quercus variabilis showed an extremely weak feeding activity of termites compared with that in other wood species; however, feeding termites with the alcohol-benzene extract of Q. variabilis had no inhibitory effect on their feeding activity. Therefore, we believe that the high density of Oriental cork oak wood inhibits the feeding activity of R. speratus. In contrast, the alcohol-benzene extracts of Z. serrata, Prunus sargentii, and Castanea crenata showed a strong inhibition of the feeding activity of termites.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.748-755
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• 2018

Timber from fast-growing tree species is susceptible to by biodeterioration attack, particularly subterranean termites. Impregnation with methyl methacrylate (MMA) potentially increases wood resistance to subterranean termite attack. Four wood species, namely sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba), mangium (Acacia mangium), and pine (Pinus merkusii), were impregnated with MMA, and samples of untreated and imidacloprid-preserved wood were prepared for comparison purposes. Small stakes, sized 0.8 cm by 2 cm in cross section by 20 cm in the longitudinal direction, were inserted into the ground for 3 months, and the weight loss of each specimen was determined at the end of the test period. A factorial $4{\times}3$ completely randomized design was used for data analysis; the first factor was wood species, and the second factor was treatment. The results showed that MMA polymer loadings were 27.88%, 24.91%, 14.14%, and 17.81% for sengon, jabon, mangium, and pine, respectively, and amounts of imidacloprid retention were $7.56kg/m^3$, $5.98kg/m^3$, $5.34kg/m^3$, and $9.53kg/m^3$, respectively. According to an analysis of variance, wood species, treatment, and interaction of both factors significantly affected the weight loss of wood specimens. Mangium had the smallest weight loss, followed by pine, sengon, and jabon. MMA impregnation into the wood increased the resistance of wood samples to subterranean termite attack during in-ground testing, but the resistance level was lower than that of imidacloprid-preserved wood. Except for mangium wood, the MMA treatment did not significantly affect resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.248-257
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• 2015

This research focused on the natural durability of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in West Java, Indonesia against subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus). It was observed that both heartwood and sapwood of Kiara payung (Filicium decipiens); heartwoods of Nangka (Arthocarpus heterophyllus), Mahoni (Swietenia macrophylla) and Simpur (Dillenia grandifolia); and sapwood of Bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa) were rated as resistant (natural durability class II) according to Indonesian standard SNI 01.7207.2006 (BSN 2006). Both heartwood and sapwood of Salam (Syzigium polyanthum), Pasang (Lithocarpus sundaicus), Bisbul (Diospyros discolor), Rukam (Flacourtia rukam) and Trembesi (Samanea saman); heartwood of Puspa (Schima walichii), Bungur, Tanjung (Mimusops elangi) and Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) were rated as moderately resistant (natural durability class III). Both heartwood and sapwood of Sungkai (Peronema canescens), Pine (Pinus merkusii), Mangium (Acacia mangium) and Afrika (Maesopsis eminii); sapwoods of Mahoni, Puspa and Tanjung were rated as poorly resistant (natural durability class IV). Both heartwood and sapwood of Agathis (Agathis dammara), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Ki sampang (Evodia latifolia) and Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba); sapwoods of Nangka and Angsana were rated as very poorly resistant (natural durability class V). This reserach showed that woods with lower resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class IV and V) tend to have lower termite mortality values compared to woods with higher resistance against C. curvignathus attack (natural durability class II and III). Results of the study will provide some valuable information on termite resistance of twenty one lesser known tropical wood species planted in Indonesia.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

The structural wooden members of the ancient building are deteriorated by fungi and termite over time. The deteriorate of the members causes the decrease of the specific gravity and the strength of it, so the stability of the building is threatened. Therefore, in this study, the evaluation of the specific gravity, which is correlated with the strength of the wood, was conducted in the post member using Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) - Drilling Resistance Test (DRT). For the purpose of it, the specific gravity and drilling resistance of small specimens was measured to obtain the correlation between the specific gravity and the drilling resistance. And then, the drilling resistance test of the post members, which were expected to have the deteriorated parts, was performed. Consequently, the correlation between the specific gravity and the drilling resistance was very high ($R^2=0.89$) and the distributions of the specific gravity were evaluated for the each member. Also, the results were verified by the visual inspection of the cross section of it. Especially, the various variations of the wood member such as the deteriorated parts with termite or fungi and the crack could be detected exactly but the knot couldn't because the drill could pass by or could not penetrate the knot.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.82-92
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• 2021

Nakdong technique is an unfamiliar scorching treatment using an iron heated in a kiln over 1000℃. It is a typical convention in Asian countries to treat Nakdong on the surface of paulownia species. The scorching treatment changes the surface characteristics as well as the color of the wood. This study focused on the effects of functional features such as water resistance, anti-mold, anti-termite, and sound improvement because this treatment is usually used on paulownia wood-bodied musical instruments surface. It took 28'57" for Nakdong-iron treated surface to absorb a droplet of water. The absorbance time of iron treated surface was longer than that of torch treated one. There was no noticeable effect on the anti-mold test. On the anti-termite test, there was nearly 3% more mean mass loss on the torch samples than controlled and iron treated ones. In examining the sound radiation coefficient before and after Nakdong treatment, the Nakdong-iron treated surface showed an increase in the average value of 1.2 m4/kg s, which means that it has sound quality improvement. Through this research, the Nakdong technique results are expected to be used as basic-data for further research and give a practical idea for using the traditional treatment method on the wood surface.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.323-337
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• 2018

Merkusii pine wood (Pinus merkusii) was extensively planted throughout Indonesia, where it is only indigenous in northern Sumatera, by the Dutch during colonial times. The demand for this wood species, especially in the domestic market, has increased notably, despite its limited durability regarding decay resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of juvenile and mature wood on merkusii pine and to analyze its radial features from pith to bark based on density, shrinkage, static bending in modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity, fiber length, microfibril angle, and durability. A segmented modeling approach was used to find the juvenile-mature transition. The graveyard test was performed to characterize the termite resistance from pith to bark of merkusii pine. The maturations were estimated to start at radial increments of 15 cm from the pith by fiber length and of 12 cm from the pith by microfibril angle. The projected figures for the proportion of juvenile wood at breast height were around 65%. The results also indicate that the pine wood was $0.52g/cm^3$ in density, 1.45 in coefficient of anisotropy, which indicates its good stability, 7597 MPa in modulus of elasticity, and 63 MPa in modulus of rupture. Natural durability against subterranean termite of the merkusii pine wood was rated to be grade 4 to 0 from pith to bark. However, after being treated by Entiblu and Enborer preservatives, its rating increased to grade 10 to 9.