Anwendungstechnische Untersuchungen über die Imprägnierbarkeit vonAspidosperma quebracho=blanco

Summary

Inspite of good growing properties and relatively good mechanical behaviour Quebracho blanco (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco) is poor in durability. Through-impregnation against attacks by fungi or animals will be necessary to permit its technical utilization for railway sleepers, as planned by the Argentine Railway Administration. By a series of Laboratory tests. the author tested small specimens of Quebrachoblanco as well as standard-sized railway sleepers on their impregnability, as up to now practically no data had been known. The pressure process with vacuum, higher pressures, and varying temperature was applied and Quebracho-blanco was found to present good impregnability with regard to retention and diffusion of the preservative. Soaking was equally satisfactory with oily preservatives and protective salt solutions, which were partly mixed with certain chemicals. It was interesting to note that the considerable portion of core in Quebracho-blanco did not affect the soaking process, which could be proved by chemical reactions.