Waxes are used for treatment of wood surfaces for several decades, predominately as surface treatments, because they did not penetrate into the wood. In order to overcome this issue, water emulsions were applied in present experiment. Five water emulsions of various concentration was used namely; two emulsions of montan wax (LGE, MW1), emulsion of polyethylene (WE1), emulsion of ethylene copolymer (WE3) and emulsion of oxidized polyethylene (WE6) wax. Performance of wax treated beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) against white rot (Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus and Hypoxylon fragiforme) and brown rot fungi (Antrodia vaillantii, Serpula lacrymans and Gloeophyllum trabeum) were tested according to the EN 113 procedure, while EN 152-2 test was used for blue stain testing of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). In parallel, wood was impregnated with selected waxes and sorption properties were determined. The results showed, that impregnation of wood with waxes reduces water sorption. After one week of conditioning of wood at the 80% RH, moisture content of wax treated specimens was 50% lower than of control ones. Impregnation of the specimens with waxes improves their performance against wood decay fungi as well. Polyethylene (WE1) and oxidized polyethylene waxes (WE6) were found particularly efficient. However, this treatment does not improve resistance against blue stain fungi.

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