The novel nuclear microscopy, essentially the Particle-induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) system, was applied for examining the macro-distribution and micro-analysis of copper-chrome-arsenic (CCA) preservative in Malaysian hardwoods Koompassia malaccensis, K. excelsa, Alstonia spp. and Dipterocarpus spp., and one temperate pinewood Pinus sylvestris, where the preservative retention differed between these wood species. Results demonstrated that the pattern of preservative macro-distribution and the relative quantities of the constituent element copper, chromium and arsenic deposited among the parenchymatous tissues, vessel wall areas, fibres and tracheids in these timbers support the general observations in timbers using electron-induced X-ray emission (EIXE) coupled with electron microscopy. However, the considerably greater analytical sensitivity of PIXE, among other advantageous characteristics of the system, implies it is a potentially valuable tool for wood preservation research.

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