It has been reported that mixing durable wood with nondurable
species increases the fungal and termite resistance
of the composite material (Behr and Wittrup, 1969). High
fungal and termite resistance of cypress pine (Callitris
glaucophylla) was attributed to the presence of extractives
in the heartwood (Evans et al., 1997). Kamdem (1994) used
methanol extractives from black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia),
osage orange (Maclura pomifere), red wood (Sequoia
sempervirens), and Intsia bijuga heartwood to increase the
decay resistance of aspen (Populus tremuloides) blocks. He
stated that methanol extractives improved the decay resistance.
Doi and Kurimoto (1998) reported that Sugi (Cryptomeria
japonica) barks had higher decay durability than
sapwood, due to components that are non-extractable by
the neutral solvents. The bark of Magnolia obovata Thunb.
had antifungal activity against wood destroying fungi
(Mori et al., 1997). Nakayama et al. (2001) stated that wood
and stem of guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) plant,
wood treated with resin extractives, and particle and composite
boards made from ground guayule bagasse exhibited
termite and wood fungal resistance.
In this study, the eVects of the impregnation of wood
particles with Pinus brutia bark extract and the concentration
level of the extractives on the physical and mechanical
properties, and decay resistance of particleboard, were
examined