A resol-type phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin was synthesized and designed to penetrate wood incorporated with boron compounds in order to immobilize boron in wood. The leaching performance, decay and termite resistance of treated wood was investigated. Three kinds of boron compounds, that is, boric acid (BA), borax (BX) and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT), were selected to mix with PF and two species of wood (Chinese fir and Masson pine) were selected as the treating samples. The leaching process of boron from wood blocks was performed according to the American Wood Preservation Association (AWPA) standard E11-06. And the boron content in treated wood and leachates were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results showed that boron leaching was reduced markedly and negligible boron was leached in some treatments. In laboratory termite tests against Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, treated wood showed low weight loss. In addition, in laboratory decay test using a brown-rot fungus (Gloeophyllum trabeum) revealed that the decay resistance of PF-boron treated wood was also greatly improved.

Download document (197 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document