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Effects of polyvinyl alcohol on leachability and efficacy of boron wood preservatives against fungal decay and termite attack

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Abstract

In this study, the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as boron fixative agent was investigated. Two levels of PVA (2.5 and 4%) were evaluated with disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) at three concentrations (1, 2 and 4% boric acid equivalent (BAE)) using a double vacuum impregnation process on Scots pine sapwood specimens. Leaching was performed according to a laboratory leaching procedure. Boron analysis using atomic absorption spectrometer showed a significant reduction in boron leachability for the samples treated with both concentrations of PVA when compared to the stand-alone boron treatment leading to boron retentions capable of preventing wood biological degradations. Decay resistance of the leached specimens was evaluated using the brown rot fungus Poria placenta. Even if complete protection was not fully achieved, an improvement in decay resistance was observed for the samples treated with DOT in presence of PVA. This leak of efficacy was attributed to a decrease in the biological activity of the complexed boron against fungi. Durability of treated wood against termite attack, evaluated using Reticulitermes santonensis, indicated a significant enhancement for the samples treated in presence of the fixative agent compared to the pure boron treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Stéphane Parant from UMR UHP SCRSMC for his assistance during utilization of the atomic absorption spectrometer. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the CPER 2007-2013 “Structuration du Pôle de Compétitivité Fibres Grand’Est” (Competitiveness Fibre Cluster). Finally, the authors would like to thank the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) for the post-doctoral fellowship granted to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, 21545-El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Ahmed Mohareb

  2. Laboratoire de préservation des bois, CIRAD PERSYST, UPR 40, 73 rue Jean François Breton, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Marie France Thévenon

  3. Dyrup S.A.S, Zone Industrielle Montplaisir, rue Jean Rond d’Alembert, 81000, Albi, France

    Edmond Wozniak

  4. Laboratoire d’Etudes et de Recherche sur le Matériau Bois, EA 4370, IFR 110, Nancy Université, BP 70239, 54506, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France

    Philippe Gérardin

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  1. Ahmed Mohareb
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  2. Marie France Thévenon
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  3. Edmond Wozniak
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  4. Philippe Gérardin
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Correspondence to Philippe Gérardin.

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Mohareb, A., Thévenon, M.F., Wozniak, E. et al. Effects of polyvinyl alcohol on leachability and efficacy of boron wood preservatives against fungal decay and termite attack. Wood Sci Technol 45, 407–417 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0344-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-010-0344-4

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