The biological protection of wood by chemical modification with different types of chlorosilanes has been investigated. The impregnation of wood has been carried out by means of liquid phase and vapor phase treatments using pure silane and silane-solvent systems. The biological efficacy against wood rotting fungi, molds and staining fungi was determined in a number of screening trials, subsequently followed by testing according to European Standard methods for wood preservatives. The basidiomycete tests revealed that only the dichlorosilanes showed to possess a protective action against fungal attack. Screening experiments using both filter paper and pine sapwood specimens illustrated the generally poor toxic activity of the organic silicon compounds against molds and blue staining fungi. From the observations of this study it can be concluded that future application of chlorosilanes in the wood preserving industry seems very doubtful.

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