The use of creosote as a wood preservative has a long history. Current areas of application are railway sleepers, transmission poles, timber bridges and marine applications. If the approval for creosote will not be prolonged, alternative wood preservatives will be needed. As the penetration behaviour after pressure impregnation of different alternative oily products in this fields of application is so far little investigated, research has been implemented for hydrophobic carrier substances. Viscosity as one main influencing factor has been evaluated. Furthermore, the penetration behaviour in Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris) after a vacuum/pressure impregnation has been analysed on macroscopic- and microscopic-level. During temperature increase, the investigated hydrophobic carrier substances showed differences in viscosity. Also differences in penetration depth after impregnation has been observed between Beech and Scots pine sapwood on macroscopic level. The microscopic analyses show the penetration pathways of the products for the tested wood species. The results will be used to optimize the impregnation processes with new oil based wood preservatives on pilot plant level as well as on industrial scale.

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