Hot-pressing effect on the termite durability of sandwich particleboards from Styrax sumatrana and Gigantochloa pruriens

As a country known for its mega-biodiversity, Indonesia is included in the vulnerable area for wood-destroying organisms, especially termites. Particleboard, as a composite product made of lignocellulosic material, is a product vulnerable to termite attack. One factor that determines the quality of particleboard is the hot-pressing process. Temperature and pressing time are the parameters that play a role in the hot-pressing process. This study aims to analyze the effect of temperature and pressing time on the resistance of boards due to attack by subterranean termites (Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren). Then the samples were fed to subterranean termites regarding SNI 01.7202-2006. Parameters observed included the percentage of termite weight loss and mortality. The results showed that Higher compressive temperatures lead to relatively better resistance, as lower weight loss values indicate. The boards produced from the hot-pressing process at 160°C for 10 minutes had the lowest weight loss value due to termite attack.