Formosan subterranean termite resistance of borate-modified strandboard manufactured from southern wood species: A laboratory trial

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Abstract

The behavior of Formosan subterranean termites (FST) toward zinc borate (ZB) and calcium borate (CB)-treated oriented Strandboard (OSB) from southern mixed hardwoods and southern yellow pine was examined in laboratory tests. Loading of ZB and CB in OSB provided protection from severe structural damage, but did not completely eliminate termite activity. The level of borate used showed significant effects on weight loss, percent termite mortality, and termite damage rating. Borate types had a significant effect on the sample weight loss and damage rating, but not on termite mortality. Wood species showed no significant effect on the termite resistance. Correlations between weight loss and damage rating and between weight loss and termite mortality for both wood species were fitted well by a decaying exponential function. A three-way regression analysis showed a significant curvilinear relationship among damage rating, weight loss, and termite mortality. Zinc and calcium borate treatment to retention levels greater than 1.0% BAE provided sufficient protection from FST attack. Additional field tests may be needed to determine whether ZB and CB treatments will protect OSB from large-scale attack by FST and if modified OSB panels will be acceptable commercially.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Wood and Fiber Science

First Page

107

Last Page

118

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