Natural Durability of Selected Imported Hardwoods Used in Korea

초록

This study aims to evaluate the natural durability of imported tropical decking wood without preservative treatment. Five hardwood species, Apitong, Basralocus, Ipe, Malas, and Merbau, were exposed to outdoor conditions for five years. Following AWPA E7 and E18 standards, ground-proximity (H3 conditions) and stake (H4 conditions) tests were conducted to assess resistance to wood-decaying fungi and subterranean termites, including changes in hardness before and after exposure. In the ground-proximity tests, all species exhibited performance ratings > 9.0, indicating negligible deterioration. In contrast, the stake tests revealed that Basralocus, Ipe, and Merbau maintained high resistance, whereas Apitong and Malas showed lower ratings of approximately 7.0, corresponding to a 10%–30% decay. With the exception of Malas, the remaining species experienced little to no termite attacks during the exposure period. Furthermore, Malas and Apitong exhibited significant reductions in hardness, with decreases > 50% in the stake tests. These results suggest that Ipe, Merbau, and Basralocus possess sufficient durability for long-term decking applications, whereas Malas and Apitong have higher risks of decay and mechanical degradation over time.

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