Fungal decay resistance and durability of organosilicon-treated wood

Published Date
March 2009, Vol.63(2):130–134, doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2008.08.002

Title 

Fungal decay resistance and durability of organosilicon-treated wood

• Author 

• Liesbeth De Vetter ^,
• Marc Stevens
• Joris Van Acker

• Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Laboratory of Wood Technology, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium

Received 15 May 2008. Accepted 1 August 2008. Available online 21 September 2008.

Abstract

The potential use of organosilicons as protective agents against basidiomycetes attack of wood used in outdoor applications was investigated using Scots pine sapwood and beech specimens. Both mini-blocks and EN 113 specimens were subjected to brown-rot and white-rot fungi. A dose–response could be observed showing that with higher weight percentage gain of the organosilicon, the resistance (i.e., efficacy) against fungi increased. At relatively low weight percentage gains, which are assumed to be economically feasible, Scots pine could be partly protected against decay by Postia placenta and Coniophora puteana and beech could be partly protected against decay by C. puteana and Trametes versicolor. Full protection was achieved by some silicons for Scots pine sapwood against C. puteana and for beech against T. versicolor. The most promising products were a solvent-based mixture of the alkoxysilanes methyltrimethoxysilane (MTM) and octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) and a water-based micro-emulsion of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and triethoxysilane (TES) when applied above 20 and 30% weight gain for Scots pine and above 30 and 40% weight gain for beech. A water-based mixture of dimethylmethylhydrogen siloxane (DMS) and N-octyltriethoxysilane (n-OTES) was able to protect beech at weight gains above 30%.

Keywords

• Basidiomycetes
• Wood durability
• Organosilicon
• Wood protection

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• ∗ 
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