Biological resistances of wood-metaborate composites using the borax solution system

IRG/WP 01-30259

Liang Lin, T Furuno

Combinations of wood and metaborate composite were prepared from sapwood specimens of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and the borax and metallic salts system using the diffusion-penetrated process. Wood-metaborate composites were produced as follows: water-saturated specimens were first impregnated by a saturated borax solution and then diffuse-penetrated with Zn2+, Ca2+, or Pb2+ solution. Biological resistances of the composites as well as their leachabilities were evaluated. The precipitates of three kinds of metaborates in the wood proved to be insoluble in water by the leaching test. In the decay test using a brown-rot fungus (Fomitopsis palustris) and a white-rot fungus (Trametes versicolor) and in the termite test using a virulent subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus), the composites showed generally excellent decay and termite resistances with the negligible weight losses of specimens. Particularly, the lead metaborate formed in the wood provided a superb biological resistance against decay and termite attacks. In addition, the precipitates of these metaborates were found to be soluble in the acidic solution, suggesting a possible way of the easy removal of chemicals from the wood for disposing of wasted composites.


Keywords: BORAX; METABORATE; LEACHABILITY; DECAY RESISTANCE; TERMITE RESISTANCE; SOLUBILITY

Conference: 01-05-20/25 Nara, Japan


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