Poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA)/nanosilica (SiO₂) based electrospun nanofibers has been deposited on wood substrate by means of the roll electrospinning process. The nanofibrous coating was hydrophobized by self-assembled monolayers of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) via a sol-gel dipping process. The PVA/SiO₂ nanofiber coating and OTS hydrophobized coating were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). All methods confirmed the formation of OTS monolayers on hybrid coatings. The adhesive strength and resistance to scratch of nanofibers coating was also evaluated.

Bamboo scrimber is one of the most emerging structural materials for future building applications and it possesses properties comparable to other natural wood-based engineered materials such as glulam, laminated veneer lumber and cross-laminated timber. The goal of this work was to study the decay resistance of bamboo scrimber against white-rot (Trametes versicolor) and brown-rot fungi (Serpula lacrymans). Bamboo scrimber samples were incubated in petri dishes with the wood-decaying fungi and the weight loss after 12 weeks was measured. The surface morphology of fungal-degraded bamboo scrimber was evaluated using optical microscopy. Based on the percentage weight loss, bamboo scrimber could be classified as highly resistant against bio-deterioration by white and brown-rot fungi.