An investigation of the effects of pre-steaming on the treatment of sawn spruce timber with Celcure A, a copper/chrome/arsenic preservative

IRG/WP 3180

C R Coggins

Difficulties in the treatment of spruce using standard vacuum/pressure techniques with both water-borne and organic solvent preservatives are well known. The growth characteristics of spruces (Picea spp) make them attractive candidates for forestry schemes. In 1975 the UK Forestry Commission had about 400 000 hectares, about 20% of total UK forest area, planted with Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). As an example of the situation in Scandinavia, the growing stock in Sweden consists of about 45% Norway spruce (Picea abies), 38% Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and the remainder hardwoods. The importance of spruce as a source of sawn timber in Europe is clear and we are investigating methods of improving the treatment of this timber. As part of the investigation we have evaluated the influence of steaming on treatability with a waterborne CCA preservative.


Keywords: PICEA SITCHENSIS; SAWN TIMBER; SAPWOOD; HEARTWOOD; TREATABILITY; IMPREGNATION; CCA; CELCURE A; DRYING; PRE-STEAMING; STEAMING; PRESSURE TREATMENTS; VACUUM/PRESSURE; SEALING; PENETRATION

Conference: 81-05-11/15 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia


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