Mold Susceptibility of Rigid PVC/Wood-Flour Composites

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dawson-Andoh B ; Harrison J ; Mutuana LM
• Description:
  Rigid PVC/wood-flour composite lumber containing either hardwood (maple) or a softwood (southern pine) wood flour at different levels of wood-flour content was evaluated for susceptibility to fungal colonization and discoloration by using standard tests that mimicked exterior (ASTM G21) and interior (ASTM D3273) environments, respectively. In the exterior test protocol, although both types of PVC/wood-flour composite lumber exhibited fungal colonization and discoloration, the composites containing maple exhibited greater discoloration than those containing pine. Irrespective of wood species, fungal colonization and discoloration in the composite lumber were greater at the bottom faces where they were in constant contact with moisture. The wood content range (50-100 phr) used in this study showed no effect on extent of fungal colonization and discoloration. All composites showed no discoloration in the interior test protocol. Both optical microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy clearly demonstrated that wood flour particulates are not completely encapsulated by the PVC matrix, so that exposed wood flour in the surface crevices of the composite lumber may serve as points of moisture sorption and staging points for fungal colonization and discoloration. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Coal Coal Mining Engineering Geology Mining Occupational Health Safety Software
• Keywords:
  Environmental-factors Fungi Fungicides Lumber-industry Microorganisms Microscopy Molds Wood Wood-dusts Wood-products
• ISSN:
  1083-5601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  179-186
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20025742
• Citation:
  J Vinyl Addit Technol 2004 Dec; 10(4):179-186
• Email:
  bdawsona@wvu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Exposure Assessment Methods
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:11a0a70799846e27e0be7832ce0ebcd1ec72832a92f931167755c3d509e76e0558e9ca8c18fc312c45f8b3a2316a57bd42995edecd53a81379c00ae0265c026d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196989/cdc_196989_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 750.06 KB ]