Evaluation of Palm Oil-Based UV Curable Coatings for Termite Resistance in Rubber Wood
Rida TAJAU, Mohd Sofian ALIAS, Mohd Hamzah HARUN, Nurul Huda MUDRI, Farah Fadzehah HILIMI, Naurah MAT ISA, Khairul Azhar ABDUL HALIM, Sharilla MUHAMMAD FAISAL, Rosley CHE ISMAIL, Abdul Muizz MOHD SANI, Khairul Anwar MUSTAFA
Abstract. Termites are significant pests that endanger wood-based infrastructure, particularly in Malaysia. Despite the durability of rubber wood, controlling termite attacks remains a challenge. This study explores the use of palm oil-based radiation-curable resin as a protective coating for wood, both with and without anti-termite chemicals, to enhance resistance to termite damage. Five formulations of resins were evaluated: (a) palm oil-based resin; (b) 0.1% anti-termite palm oil-based resin; (c) 1% anti-termite palm oil-based resin; (d) 5% anti-termite palm oil-based resin; and (e) a commercial anti-termite solution. Rubberwood blocks were coated with UV-curable resin and then cured before being placed in termite mounds for 30 days. Untreated samples were used as controls. The coatings were evaluated for weight loss, chemical composition, hydrophobicity, gloss, haze, and chemical resistance using international standards. After 30 days, the samples coated with anti-termite palm oil-based resins exhibited no weight loss and no visible termite damage. In contrast, both untreated and commercially treated controls showed a 2% weight loss and bite marks. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of imidacloprid functional groups in the anti-termite palm oil-based resins, which created a protective film layer for the rubberwood blocks. Radiation-curable anti-termite palm oil-based coatings functioned well as barriers because they were waterproof and cross-linked. However, their resistance to mould outdoors was poor and needs more investigation. This preliminary study suggests that palm oil-based radiation-curable coatings can be effective, eco-friendly wood protectants, providing a sustainable option for termite control in humid areas.
Keywords
Anti-Termite, Palm Oil, Radiation Curable Resin, Radiation Curing, Wood Coatings
Published online 7/15/2026, 8 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Rida TAJAU, Mohd Sofian ALIAS, Mohd Hamzah HARUN, Nurul Huda MUDRI, Farah Fadzehah HILIMI, Naurah MAT ISA, Khairul Azhar ABDUL HALIM, Sharilla MUHAMMAD FAISAL, Rosley CHE ISMAIL, Abdul Muizz MOHD SANI, Khairul Anwar MUSTAFA, Evaluation of Palm Oil-Based UV Curable Coatings for Termite Resistance in Rubber Wood, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 68, pp 33-40, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904237-5
The article was published as article 5 of the book Green Materials, Processing & Characterization
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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