Some mechanical properties and decay resistance of wood impregnated with environmentally-friendly borates

This study was made to determine some mechanical properties such as compression strength parallel to grain, modulus of rupture, and decay resistance of wood treated with some environmentally-friendly borates. Sodium tetrafluoroborate (SFB), ammonium tetrafluoroborate, (AFB), and ammonium pentaborate octahydrate (APB) were used as borates. Wood specimens were prepared from Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L) and Scots pine (Pin us sylvestris L.). Before tests, wood specimens were impregnated with aqueous solutions (0.25%, 0.50%, 1.50%, and 3.00%) of borates according to ASTM D 1413-76. Results showed that compression strength parallel to grain (CSPG) and modulus of rupture (MOR) of wood specimens treated with borates were lower compared to untreated control specimen. In general, our results showed that the higher concentration levels of borates, the lower mechanical properties of wood resulted. Borate treated wood showed considerable resistance to the decay fungus compared to that of untreated control specimen. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.