Application of radio-frequency heating to utility poles. Part 3. The use of RF heating to eradicate decay fungi in pole material

An evaluation of radio-frequency (RF) heating to eliminate decay fungi in roundwood sections was conducted. Shavings colonized by the decay fungi were placed in Douglas-fir and western red cedar pole sections at various depths from the pole surface. The pole sections were then subjected to RF heating, after which the shavings were recovered and the viability of the fungi determined. All decay fungi were killed after 2 hours of heating above 65 deg C. This confirmed the potential of the RF heating process to destroy decay fungi present in poles during processing.