To determine the effects of the moisture uptake and mold growth on the shear strength of plywood, 3-ply (0.6+1.3+0.6mm) samples were prepared by using the tropical hardwood veneers and urea formaldehyde resin as the raw material and the adhesive, respectively. The samples were exposed to different conditions, which were five types of mold fungi inoculated on the malt-agar medium according to JIS Z 2911, the sterilized one, constant temperature and humidity (20°C, RH), and outdoor on the concrete roof. The values of shear strength and wood failure along the glue-lines were determined after 1, 2, 3 and 12 months of exposure.
The results obtained were as follows;
1. The mold growth of Aspergillus niger caused the significant reductions of shear strength and wood failure as much as 44 and 41 % of the initial strength, respectively, after 2-month exposure.
2. The mold fungi except for A. niger and the accerelated-aging conditions showed the shear strength of about 80 to 90% of the initial values after 2-month exposure.
3. The shear strength decreased and the wood failure increased with the increase of the mass weigth of the specimens, and this characteristics were considered to be related to the penetration of water in the glue.
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