title: Termite resistance of MDF panels treated with various boron compounds.
abstract: In this study, the effects of various boron compounds on the termite resistance of MDF panels were evaluated. Either borax (BX), boric acid (BA), zinc borate (ZB), or sodium perborate tetrahydrate (SPT) were added to urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin at target contents of 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% based on dry fiber weight. The panels were then manufactured using 12% urea-formaldehyde resin and 1% NH(4)Cl. MDF samples from the panels were tested against the subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Laboratory termite resistance tests showed that all samples containing boron compounds had greater resistance against termite attack compared to untreated MDF samples. At the second and third weeks of exposure, nearly 100% termite mortalities were recorded in all boron compound treated samples. The highest termite mortalities were determined in the samples with either BA or BX. Also, it was found that SPT showed notable performance on the termite mortality. As chemical loadings increased, termite mortalities increased, and at the same time the weight losses of the samples decreased.
authors: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Usta
authors: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: Derya
authors: D
authors: Ustaomer
authors: Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Saip Nami
authors: SN
authors: Kartal
authors: Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors: Sedat
authors: S
authors: Ondaral
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001881:Borates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D001888:Boric Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D020049:Isoptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D001881:Borates; D001888:Boric Acids; D001896:Boron Compounds; C018851:borax; D005557:Formaldehyde; D014508:Urea; C032688:boric acid; C027707:sodium perborate