Biological Resistance and Application Properties of Particleboards Containing Nano‐Zinc Oxide

Special particleboards (PBs) proposed for kitchens, bathrooms, hospitals, and some other specific products for interiors should have a sufficient resistance against bacteria, molds, and decaying fungi. This work deals about effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano‐ZnO) added into melamine‐urea‐formaldehyde (MUF) glue in the amounts of 0, 2, 6, 12, or 24% wt. on selected biological, moisture, and strength properties of laboratory‐produced one‐layer PBs. The nano‐ZnO‐treated PBs had a higher biological resistance: (1) against the Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus by up to ca. 70% and the Gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli by up to 50%, since their bacterial activities at using 1.0 McFarland bacterial inoculum decreased from 0.38–0.40 by up to 0.12–0.19 × 108 CFU/ml; (2) against the molds Penicillium brevicompactum and Aspergillus niger by up to ca. 50–63%, since their growth intensities (0–4) on the top surfaces of treated PBs decreased according to a modified EN 15457 from 2.33–2.67 by up to 1.17–1.0; (3) against the brown‐rot fungus Coniophora puteana by up to 85.7%, since their weight losses reduced according to a modified ENV 12038 from 17.4% by up to 2.5%. The presence of nano‐ZnO in PBs uninfluenced their swelling, water absorption, and bending strength; however, it decreased their internal bond strength by up to 38.8%.