BENDING PROPERTIES OF TERMITE-RESISTANT FLAKEBOARD MADE FROM WOOD WITH HIGH NATURAL DURABILITY

摘要

The flatwise static bending properties of termite-resistant flakeboards, made from softwood with known characteristics on natural durability and high termite-resistance, were investigated. Two lightweight softwood species, Alaska yellow-cedar (AYC) and Port-Orford -cedar (POC), with those inherent properties were chosen for this study. These two softwood species have not been used by the forest products industries for manufacturing commercial wood composite panel products. For evaluating the effectiveness of structural performance of flakeboards fabricated from these two lightweight softwood species, specimens made from southern yellow pine (SYP), which has low decay-resistance and termite-resistance, but commonly being used for manufacturing commercial wood composite panels for use in floor decks and sheathings in light- and medium-frame building constructions, were also tested for comparison. Five type flakeboards, containing 100% AYC flakes (I); 100% POC flakes (II); 100% SYP flakes (III); 50-50 mixture of SYP-AYC flakes (IV); and 50-50 mixture of SYP-POC flakes (V), were laboratory-fabricated for this study. All specimens were tested in flatwise static bending and tension perpendicular to the face of board under the conditions of 65% relative humidity (RH) and 23.9℃ Results indicated that the flatwise static bending strength and internal bond strength (i.e. tension perpendicular to the board face) of the flakeboards fabricated with 100% AYC or 100% POC flakes was comparable to that of 100% SYP specimens. Furthermore, the flatwise static bending stiffness (MOE: Modulus of Elasticity) of the flakeboards either made of 100% AYC, 100%POC, or 50-50 mixture of SYP-AYC/SYP-POC, were relatively better than that of 100% SYP specimens.