Metal and organo-metallic wood preservative systems have provided the consumer with cost effective wood preservative systems which satisfy the performance requirements in a wide range of end uses. With increasing environmental and legislative control, metal-free formulations have emerged as the dominant preservative systems for the protection of timber in the lower hazard classes. In higher hazard classes however, and particularly where the preservative is subject to exposure to the elements, susceptibility of these biocides to chemical and biological degradation processes markedly increases the difficulty in the evaluation and eventual determination of wood preservative performance. This paper discusses aspects of the development process required to produce effective wood preservatives with emphasis on unprotected hazard class 3 end uses.

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