The effect of using wood chips exposed to mold fungi on the properties of chipboard

Considering that commonly occurring mold fungi have the ability to develop very quickly on the surface of wood chips and the ongoing studies on finding the ways to use degraded wood, the conducted research was aimed at determining the physical and mechanical properties of chipboards containing various amounts (0%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) of pine chips inoculated with Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi, varying in a degree of infestation. The inoculation did not cause significant changes in the chemical composition of chips; however, it caused a decrease in the pH of their surface after nine-week incubation. While using them, lowered pH caused a deterioration in the mechanical characteristics of the boards and increased their thickness swelling and water absorption. Moreover, no changes in density, formaldehyde content and decomposition by brown-rot fungi were found. Overall, it was concluded that the addition of partially infested chips did not significantly affect any properties of the board; however, in the case of complete overgrowth, the amount of degraded chips should be less than 30%.