Cinnamon Bark Oil as an Effective Fungicide in Protecting the Surface of Wood-Based Softboards against the Development of Mold Fungi

Abstract

Porous wood-based boards, like any lignocellulosic material, are susceptible to biocorrosion caused by mold fungi. Their durability can be extended by using biocides. Due to the fact that porous boards are considered an ecological material, it would be beneficial to also use natural agents to protect them. For this purpose, the surface of softboards was protected with a 30% solution of cinnamon bark oil in ethanol. Three application levels were used: 75 g/m2, 120 g/m2, and 200 g/m2 of solution. It has been shown that the cinnamon bark oil solution used at an application rate of 200 g/m2 is an effective fungicide, protecting softboards (SBs) against the development of mold fungi: T. viride and C. globosum. The dominant volatile component of cinnamon oil identified in the boards turned out to be cinnamaldehyde. Three months after treatment, this substance constituted 74% of the volatile components. The proposed treatment method allows for short-term preventive protection of boards against mold fungi.