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

Author: mycolabadmin
1/17/2025
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Summary

Scientists tested how well building materials made from plant husks and plastic resist fungal growth. They found that the standard testing method has serious accuracy problems, with results varying by more than 20%. They also discovered that how you clean the samples after fungal exposure significantly affects the test results, suggesting the test method needs better instructions.

Background

Test methods for assessing fungal resistance of natural fiber-reinforced composite construction materials often lack standardization and clear specification of procedures. The fungal resistance test method for cereal husk-reinforced composites has not been fully defined, particularly regarding mycelium removal techniques after fungal exposure.

Objective

This study assessed the precision of the fungal resistance test method and evaluated how different mycelium removal techniques influence test results for millet- and oat husk-reinforced PVC composites exposed to Coniophora puteana fungi.

Results

The study revealed low precision of the test method with coefficients of variation exceeding 20% for intra-laboratory reproducibility. The mycelium removal method significantly affected results, with brush cleaning causing 16% greater flexural strength loss compared to water jet cleaning in millet husk composites. SEM analysis showed differences in surface damage and filler loss between cleaning methods.

Conclusion

The fungal resistance test method requires clarification and standardization, particularly regarding the mycelium removal procedure. The expanded uncertainty of results can reach 40-50% or higher when considering interlaboratory variability, indicating the need for improved test method specifications and standardization.

Published in:Materials (Basel),
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: 10.3390/ma18020411