EFFICACY OF SELECTED FIRE-RETARDANT CHEMICALS AS WOOD PRESERVATIVES AGAINST SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (COPTOTERMES CURVIGNATHUS) ON HEVEA BRASILIENSIS

Abstract

Fire retardants such as boric acid, Dricon, and others chemical compound are commonly used to reduce the risk of fire in woody materials and structures. By incorporating such multifunctional compounds, manufacturers can enhance product safety while simultaneously cutting down on production expenses. This approach not only improves the overall quality of the materials but also leads to more sustainable practices in the industry. However, these fire retardants also need to provide protection against other destructive agents such as fungi and insects, including termites. Thus, making wood protection more comprehensive and cost-effective. In order to study the potential of fire-retardant chemicals as wood preservatives, boric acid (BA), diammonium phosphate (DAP), Dricon, and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) at various concentrations (15, 20, and 30 concentrations in % w/w solvent-water) were evaluated as termiticides in Malaysian conditions. All treated samples were then subjected to termite resistance tests according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D3345 method using a subterranean termite, Coptotermes curvignathus (Rhinotermitidae: Isoptera). The results indicated significant variations in the efficacy of each chemical, with certain concentrations demonstrating superior performance in both repelling and eliminating termite populations. The results indicated varying degrees of efficacy, suggesting that certain concentrations could indeed serve dual purposes as both fire retardants and wood preservatives in protecting against termite infestations. Higher termite mortalities were seen in the wood specimens treated with the fire retardants when compared to the control specimens (Hevea brasiliensis). Boric acid and Dricon have great potential as wood preservatives against termites in addition to be used as fire-retardant materials. However, MAP and DAP protected specimens well against termite attack at higher concentration levels tested.