Didecyl polyoxyethyl ammonium borate (DPAB), also known as Polymeric Betaine, was developed as a co-biocide for chromium-free copper based wood preservatives in Europe in the 1980’s. This paper summarizes the properties of DPAB as a wood preservative. Unique properties related to the betaine nature of DPAB are discussed in terms of the structureproperty relationship. Physical properties of DPAB...

Wood is an amazing combination of polymers that exhibits both strength and durability as a structural material. Nevertheless, from the time it is formed in the tree, wood is subject to deterioration by a variety of agents. Damage ranges from relatively minor discolorations caused by fungi or chemicals to more serious decay and insect attack. Wood degradation is beneficial in the ecosystem, retu...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of natural weathering in ground contact on biological resistance, modulus of rupture, and color stability of heat-treated alder wood. Chemical composition of weathered wood was also studied by FTIR-ATR spectra. Wood stakes were heated at 150, 180, and 200°C for periods of 2, 6, and 10 hours, and the stakes were subsequently exposed to na...

A series of treated and untreated laminated Douglas fir beams and plywood panels were subjected to static and dynamic loads to study the effects of pressureimpregnation with fire-retardant chemicals on the mechanical properties of wood and to extend the existing knowledge cf the dynamic properties of wood. Results from the beam tests indicate that designs should be based on use under wet condit...

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is now a widely-used technique in the field of forest products, especially for physical and mechanical property determinations. This technique is also ideal for the chemical analysis of wood. There has been a growing need to find a rapid, inexpensive and reliable method to distinguish between preservative-treated and untreated waste wood. It has been demonstrate...

The Finnish wood heat treatment technology ThermoWood, was recently introduced to Turkey. Data about the mechanical and physical properties of Turkish wood species are important for industry and academia. In this study two industrially important Turkish wood species, pine (Pinus nigraArnold.) and fir (Abies bornmülleriana Matf.) were heat-treated using the ThermoWood process. Pine and fir sampl...

The aim of the present study was to combat wood decay based on the approach controlled-release biocides from polymers. The possibility of introducing polymer-bonded fungicides into the cell lumens was investigated. The synthesis of ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer con­ taining pentachlorophenol (penta) and 8-hydroxy quino­ line (8HQ) in N, N dimethyl formamide is described. It was demonstrat...

after Playing in Playgrounds We commend Kwon et al. (2004) for their very interesting study of arsenic on the hands of children in contact with chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-treated wood structures and soil after playing in playgrounds. We would like to comment on some of their cited references and discuss the implications of the reported arsenic concentrations found in their sand/soil sample...

Three commercial silicone emulsions with different functional groups i.e., quat-silicone micro-emulsion (<40 nm particle size), amino-silicone macro-emulsion (110 nm), and silicone macro-emulsion with alkylmodified side groups (740 nm) were used to protect wood samples against fungal decay. The addition of the emulsions to an agar growth medium revealed that all three silicone formulations inhi...

Copper-based compounds are some of the most important biocides for the protection of wood in heavy duty applications. In the past, copper was combined with chromium compounds to reduce copper leaching, but a recent generation of copper-based preservatives uses ethanolamine as a fixative. To elucidate the leaching of copper biocides from wood, Norway spruce (Picea abies) wood was treated with a ...