Performance of boron diffused wood products used indoors for 144 months in Bangladesh
IRG/WP 12-30581
A K Lahiry, T Lahiry
In this service performance study of boron diffused hardwoods, boron in the form of boric acid (H3BO3) was applied separately through paste and through wet cloth. The born diffused woods were kept indoors for 144-months in Bangladesh to ascertain the performance of treated wood against wood destroying insects. The new easy application processes of cost effectual boric acid have been found effective to sterilize wood through diffusion and after 144-months exposure the treated wood samples have been found intact and fresh. The untreated similar types of hardwoods used and stored indoors have been found damaged within 6-months by the attack of wood destroying insects. Both the application processes of boric acid on the surfaces of woods or wood members are found to be the sustainable solution to protect lumbers being used or to be used indoors where timber products are very susceptible to termite and borer attack in tropical and subtropical climatic conditions similar to Bangladesh. The findings of this research is functional now and the methods should be applied to all use purposes including bamboo products in order to protect one of the vital environmental resources thus conserving plant resources in a sustainable fashion.