Durability of fiber boards made of jabon and andong bamboo with additional activated carbon additives against dry wood termites and subterranean termites

Abstract

Abstract Utilization of wood waste as material to produce medium density fiber-board (MDF) will help to reduce the rate of deforestation. Jabon waste (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.) combined with andong (Gigantochloa pseudoarundinacea (Steudel) Widjaja) bamboo waste with 50%:50% ratio were made into MDF with the size of 30 cm x 30 cm x 1.2 cm and density 0.45 kg/m3 and 0.55 kg/m3. Activated carbon additive 4% were then added in the process. MDF durability test towards attack from Cryptotermes cynocephalus Light dry wood termite and Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgrem subterranean termites were done according to SNI 01-7207-2014. Result shows that the addition of activated carbon powder increased the MDF’s dry wood termites-durability level from IV (not-durable) to III (moderately durable). Meanwhile, adding activated carbon powder additive in MDF had not increase its durability to subterranean termites attack. The MDF durability level against soil termite stood at the same level of IV (not-durable). Improvement needs to be done for MDF made of jabon and andong bamboo mix using preservatives to increase the MDF durability level.