A series of laboratory studies to investigate the influence of treatment application method on CCA performance in Cosican pine has been completed. Biological decay tests, such as serial exposures, were used to induce decay in wood at preservative retentions of up to 10 kg/m³ CCA salts. Significant differences in performance of the preservative against either brown, white or soft rot decay fungi were found depending upon the preservative application method used. The full-cell process gave the greatest level of CCA performance against Coniophora puteana whereas the Lowry empty-cell process gave the best performance against Coriolus versicolor and soft rot fungi. Pre-treatment steaming caused a general reduction in preservative efficacy. Analysis of the treated wood using FT-IR spectroscopy and electron microscopy with EDS for preservative micro-distribution indicated modification of the wood cell wall by steaming and differential distribution of copper depending on preservative application method. A hypothesis is proposed to account for the observed differences in preservative performance with treatment method.

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