Uji Laboratoris Daya Tahan Komposit Serbuk Kayu Plastik Polietilena Berkerapatan Tinggi Setelah Pelunturan Terhadap Serangan Rayap Tanah (Coptotermes Gestroi)

Abstract

In 1999, economic lost caused by termite attack in Indonesia’s building reached 300 billion and in 2000 was predicted reached Rp 3 trilyun (Nandika et al. 2003). In general, damage in this building caused by soil termite attack of Coptotermes genus. To over take this problem, many efforts has been implemented such as development of composite wood technology by combining wood powder with plastic. It is hoped that this combination can decrease termite attack case. Generally, plastic wood composite is made from wood powder and polyethylene mixture. Implementing leaching procedure, testing endurance to soil termite attack by calculating weight decline and termite mortality after baiting was conducted to know the endurance of high density polyethylene plastic wood powder composite from soil termite (Coptotermes gestroi). The smallest leaching percentage was in mixture of HDPE and acetylated wood powder mixture amount of 0,13 %, acetylation treatment increase weight addition percentage and produce wood with higher hydrofobisity (Hadi et al. 1993), while the highest leaching percentage was in control test sample amount of 2,07 %. This is happened because it is easier for wood component to be dissolve in water. Leaching effect was not significant to the sample weight, which means that HDPE and wood powder is resistance to C. gestroi attack. Plastic became the physical blocker for termites to use wood cellulosa. Termite mortality was increase since the first week until observation to all test sample. Research results showed that the resistance of high density polyethylene plastic wood powder composite to C. gestroi attack was not significantly effected by leaching process. Plastic wood powder composite with of HDPE could increase Pinus ponderosa resistance to C. gestroi attack. Wood powder acetylation treatment to plastic wood powder composite produce better resistance to soil termite attack than the others treatment. Coupling agent treatment gave a very small effect increasing plastic wood powder composite resistance to C. gestroi attack. Treatment by adding 1 % zinc borate to P. ponderosa wood powder produce a good plastic wood powder composite resistance to C. gestroi attack.