Components of an impregnation solution for the melamine modification of wood were investigated with regard to their effectiveness against growth of the brown-rot fungus Poria placenta and the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor on malt extract agar. The two solution components, methylated melamine formaldehyde resin (MMF) and triethanolamine, were added to the sterilized liquid agar to obtain concentrations of 0.5 – 5 % (MMF) and 1 % triethanolamine (TEA). The MMF was cured in the agar at 95 °C before inoculating the agar with the test fungi. Growth of the fungi was quantified as overgrown percentage of the surface of the agar during a period of 70 days when no further growth was observed. The pH of the agar was measured after the test. Generally, the growth of the fungi was retarded by the added components. The tolerance of the brown-rot fungus to melamine resin was higher than that of the white-rot fungus. Only the white-rot fungus grew on the agar mixed with TEA. The pH-value in the agar inoculated with brown-rot fungus after 70 days distinctly decreased with decreasing growth of fungus. A similar development was not visible for the agar inoculated with the white-rot fungus.
Keywords: Melamine modification, impregnation solution, basidiomycetes, pH-value
Authors
Mahnert K.-C.
Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology, Oslo
Militz H.
Department of Wood Biology and Wood Products, University of Göttingen, Göttingen
Login to download the PDF