The American Wood Preservers' Association laboratory choice and no choice termite test (AWPA E1-97) was performed on a formulation of copper azole, which is comprised of copper, boric acid, and tebuconazole. The formulation tested has a ratio of copper:boric acid:tebuconazole of 25:25:1. So as to examine the impact of leaching, the southern yellow pine wafers were treated with and without boric acid at the nominal retentions of 3.3, 4.9 and 6.5 kg/m3. Although considerable field test data are available on this system (Tanalith E and CBA-A), laboratory data of this type was unavailable. Thus, these tests are intended to compliment termite efficacy of the copper azole preservative. The samples were exposed to Reticulitermes flavipes and to Coptotermes formosanus in the Mississippi State University and University of Hawaii laboratories, respectively. Wafers treated with CCA Type C (oxides) at 4.0 and 6.4 kg/m3 retentions were used as controls, as well as untreated pine. The laboratory results show that copper azole and CCA-C performed well at all retentions against both Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus, whereas the untreated controls had significant weight losses, e.g. 50%.

Download document (38 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document