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Precision of Fungal Resistance Test Method for Cereal Husk-Reinforced Composite Construction Profiles Considering Mycelium Removal Techniques

Summary

Researchers tested how well different methods measure a composite material’s resistance to fungal attack. They found that the current testing method is not very reliable, with results varying significantly between tests. More importantly, they discovered that how you clean off the fungus after testing can significantly affect the results, suggesting that testing standards need to be improved and standardized.

Background

Test methods for assessing fungal resistance of natural fiber-reinforced composite construction materials often lack standardized procedures, particularly regarding mycelium removal after fungal exposure. This study examines the precision and reproducibility of fungal resistance testing for cereal husk-reinforced PVC composite profiles used in outdoor applications.

Objective

To assess the precision of the fungal resistance test method for natural particle-reinforced composite construction profiles and to evaluate the influence of different mycelium removal techniques on test results for millet and oat husk-reinforced PVC composites exposed to Coniophora puteana.

Results

The coefficient of variation for reproducibility exceeded 20% in some cases, indicating poor precision of the test method. Mycelium removal method significantly affected results for millet husk composites, with brush cleaning producing 16% greater loss in flexural strength compared to water jet cleaning. For oat husk composites, the cleaning method had no statistically significant effect. SEM analysis revealed that brush cleaning caused greater filler particle loss from the matrix.

Conclusion

The fungal resistance test method demonstrates insufficient precision with expanded uncertainty values reaching 40-56% for millet husk composites. The study highlights the need to standardize mycelium removal procedures and other aspects of the test method. The sensitivity to cleaning technique suggests that composite material properties significantly influence susceptibility to methodological variations.
  • Published in:Materials (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 39859882
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