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The influence of age on retention and fixation of CCA in pressure-treated Kenyan-grown Eycalyptus saligna: Summary of findings
2002 - IRG/WP 02-30296
The present study investigates the influence of age on retention and fixation of copper-chrome-arsenate (CCA) in Kenyan-grown Eucalyptus saligna. Samples for the study were obtained from sound trees aged 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 years. Test samples were radially cut from round material to represent total sapwood and heartwood for each age class, and measured 50mm in thickness, 100mm long, with wi...
R Venkatasamy


Moisture uptake and volumetric swelling as probable factors also affecting leaching in CCA-treated wood. A preliminary study of treated Eucalyptus saligna sapwood
2003 - IRG/WP 03-30318 IRG/WP 03-30318
A number of factors affecting leaching of CCA from treated wood have been variously investigated and discussed. However, the possible effects of moisture movement in treated timbers on leaching have not received attention yet. The present study examines and compares moisture uptake and volumetric swelling in CCA-treated and untreated sapwood of Eucalyptus saligna, and tries to establish a correl...
R Venkatasamy


Butt-end incising to improve penetration and retention of creosote in Eucalyptus saligna power transmission poles in Kenya. Preliminary results
2002 - IRG/WP 02-40249
Incising as a possible technique to improve penetration and retention of creosote in the butt end of Eucalyptus saligna power transmission poles in Kenya was investigated. Debarked, butt-end samples from whole poles were seasoned (15% MC), incised using four patterns of incisions, sealed at the top or small diameter end, and pressure treated with a mixture of creosote-furnace oil (60/40 mix) at a...
R Venkatasamy


Incising to improve penetration and retention of creosote in small-diameter Kenyan-grown Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica)
2003 - IRG/WP 03-40253
Turning small-diameter plantation thinnings into value-added products has remained a challenge in many countries, including Kenya. The present study reports on a feasible technique to effectively treat small-diameter cypress for use in ground contact. Samples of pole-size Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica), 106 mm and 138 mm in average diameter, were sampled from thinnings in 7 and 12 year-old plant...
R Venkatasamy


Wood preservation in Kenya
2000 - IRG/WP 00-40190
Focussing an Wood Preservation in Kenya, the Report discusses and elaborates on Education and Training, Research, Wood deteriorating organisms, Treatment Plants and Processes, Preserving Chemicals, Specifications, Markets, Health and Safety and Environmental issues. Education and Research is limited to one Institution only, other Institutions involved with the properties and utilization of wood ha...
R Venkatasamy


The influence of soil pH on leaching of CCA elements from pressure-treated Eucalyptus saligna sapwood: environmental implication
2003 - IRG/WP 03-50203
Evidence is accumulating as to poor distribution and fixation of CCA in tropical hardwoods, and there is therefore a necessity to investigate the permanency of CCA in tropical hardwoods. The relationship between soil pH and leaching of Cu, Cr and As from CCA pressure-treated sapwood of Kenyan-grown Eucalyptus saligna was tested under laboratory conditions. Small sapwood samples were pressure-tre...
R Venkatasamy, D N Okwara


Industrial wood preservation in Kenya. Present status – future prospects
2005 - IRG/WP 05-30385
Although some 50 years old, industrial wood preservation in Kenya does not appear to have technically, scientifically, and commercially evolved and contributed to significantly extend service lives of timbers, protect health and the environment, and curb unnecessary over-exploitation of forests. The population of the country has increased by 530% over the past 50 years; regular excisions have red...
R Venkatasamy


Butt-end incising to improve penetration and retention of CCA in Eucalyptus saligna telegraph poles in Kenya: Preliminary results
2002 - IRG/WP 02-40243
Incising to improve penetration and retention of Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) in the butt end of Eucalyptus saligna telegraph poles was investigated. Debarked, seasoned (15% MC) butt-end samples from full size telegraph poles were incised using four patterns of incisions, sealed at the top or small diameter end, and pressure treated, together with un-incised samples, with CCA-C (3.0% oxide typ...
R Venkatasamy


The wood preservation industry in Kenya
1997 - IRG/WP 97-30157
Like in many other tropical and sub-tropical countries, the necessity to protect wood using wood preserving chemicals was not found necessary in Kenya because of abundant supplies of naturally durable hardwoods. That situation changed as a result of depletion of natural hardwood forests and replacement by fast growing non-durable exotic species and the appearance of new, more lucrative markets for...
R Venkatasamy


Differential retention and leaching of CCA (C) in sapwood and heartwood of Kenyan-grown blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) and black wattle (Acacia mearnsii)
2005 - IRG/WP 05-30371
Retention and leaching of CCA(C) in small samples of sapwood and heartwood of Kenyan-grown blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) and black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) were tested under laboratory conditions. Clear samples (100mm x 30mm x 40mm) were removed from the sapwood and heartwood of sampled defect-free and sound plantation trees of the two species. These were separately air-dried to 15% MC, end-seal...
R Venkatasamy


The effects of pH on leaching of copper-chrome-arsenate (CCA) from pressure-treated Kenyan-grown Eucalyptus saligna and Acacia mearnsii: Initial findings.
2002 - IRG/WP 02-30298
The effects of pH on leaching of CCA from pressure-treated Kenyan-grown Eucalyptus saligna and Acacia mearnsii were tested under laboratory conditions. Small samples of the two species (100mm x 30mm x 40mm) were smooth sawn from 8-year old trees to represent equal amounts of both sapwood and heartwood, air-dried to 12% moisture content, end-sealed, and pressure-treated at a commercial treatment p...
R Venkatasamy


Toxic wood preserving chemicals in the environment: Kenya - a cause for concern
1998 - IRG/WP 98-50101-17
The uncontrolled release of wood preserving chemicals into the environment, in most African countries, is discussed. Kenya has some 25 wood preservation plants, 23 of which use formulations of Copper- Chrome-Arsenate (CCA). The bulk of treated timbers consists of poles and posts used in ground contact. Poor fixation of CCA elements are associated with the species used, Eucalyptus saligna and Acaci...
R Venkatasamy


Comparing microbial colonisation and Decay Rates of Wood from Sound and Aphid-Killed Kenyan-Grown Mexican Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica)
2006 - IRG/WP 06-10599
Samples of wood from 10, 15, and 30-year old trees attacked and killed by the cypress aphid (Cinara cupressi) and sound Kenyan-grown Cupressus lusitanica trees were investigated for variations in moisture content, density and susceptibility to microbial decay. MC varied with tree age, a normal trend, and between samples from aphid-killed and sound trees. In samples from 10, 15 and 20-year old so...
R Venkatasamy


Comparative studies on penetration and retention of CCA (C) and creosote in wood from APHID-killed and sound Kenyan-grown Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica)
2006 - IRG/WP 06-40352
Properties of wood from Kenyan-grown Mexican cypress (Cupressus lusitanica), attacked and killed by the cypress aphid (Cinara cupressi), in terms of density and treatability, were investigated in comparison to the properties of wood from sound trees. Density in small wood samples from aphid-killed trees was found lower than density in samples from sound trees, and reduced with tree age in samples...
R Venkatasamy, F M Opar


Influence of Grain Direction on Penetration, Retention, and Leaching of CCA(C) in Sapwood and Heartwood of Kenyan-Grown Eucalyptus saligna and Acacia mearnsii
2007 - IRG/WP 07-40383
Penetration, retention, and leaching of CCA (C) in relation to grain orientation were tested in small (50mm x 50mm x 200mm) sapwood and heartwood samples of Eucalyptus saligna and Acacia mearnsii. In both sapwood and heartwood of the two species, the results showed a consistent pattern: Transverse > Radial > Tangential. Whereas penetration, retention, and leaching were significantly high i...
R Venkatasamy


Influence of Grain Direction on Penetration, Retention, and Leaching of CCA(C) in Sapwood and Heartwood of Kenyan-Grown Cupressus lusitanica and Pinus patula
2007 - IRG/WP 07-40384
The influence of grain orientation on penetration, retention, and leaching of CCA (C) was tested on small samples of sapwood and heartwood of Cupressus lusitanica and Pinus patula. Samples measuring 50mm x 50mm, and 200mm in the longitudinal axis were sealed to expose only transverse, or radial, or tangential faces, pressure treated with 6% CCA (C), and penetration, retention and leaching of the ...
R Venkatasamy


Commercial Timbers of Kenya
2016 - IRG/WP 16-10876
The global timber trade has for years been too familiar with an assortment of available African timbers, reputed for their appearance in terms of colour, grain, pattern and durability. African forests are fast disappearing through over-exploitation as a result of demand for agricultural land. Kenya, the home of some of these valuable hardwoods, has been similarly affected, with its forest land cov...
R Venkatasamy