Effects of Nano-clay on Biological Resistance of Wood- Plastic Composite against Five Wood-deteriorating Fungi

Effects of nano-clay on weight loss of wood-plastic composites (WPC) by five fungi were studied. Nanoclay particles of 20 to 50 nm size were applied at 2, 4, and 6% WPC of 0,90 g/cm3 density. The white-rot fungi Physisporinus vitreus, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor as well as the brown-rot species Antrodia vaillantii and Coniophora puteana were used. Mass loss tests were conducted according to the European standard. The highest (3.2%) and lowest (0,2%) mass losses were produced by T. versicolor and P. vitreus in the control and 6%-nanoclay treatments, respectively. Obviously the weight loss of WPC depends on the fungus species. Although weight losses were extremely low, nano-clay considerably inhibited the growth of wood-deteriorating fungi. Mass loss correlated with water absorption.