Abstract
Acacia saligna wood was impregnated with 5% and 10% concentrations of Paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposites using a soaking technique and evaluated for their antifungal activity against the growth of three molds in vitro, namely, Alternaria tenuissima, Trichoderma harzianum, and Fusarium culmorum. The Titanium (Ti) element peak of 0.14% and 0.23%, was found in the A. saligna wood treated with Paraloid B-72/TiO2 nanocomposites at 5% and 10%, respectively. Consolidant polymer Paraloid B-72 mixed with TiO2 nanocomposites at 5% and 10% showed antifungal activity against the three studied molds, while the linear growth of the studied molds reached the maximum in the control and Paraloid B72 treatments. The results concluded that using synthesized Paraloid B72/ TiO2 nanocomposite could be considered as a new agent in the wood preservation field by prevention of mold fungal growth over the wood surfaces.