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Resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) modified with short- and long-chain siloxanes to subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes)

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Abstract

Laboratory choice and no-choice tests following the guidelines of EN 117 (2013) were performed to assess the resistance of wood modified with short- and long-chain amino-functional siloxane emulsions to subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes). Scots pine sapwood was vacuum-pressure treated to reach 2, 5 and 8 % weight percent gain. Half of the specimens (including controls) were subjected to an accelerated aging test according to the standard EN 84 (1997) prior to termite testing. In addition to visual rating, mass losses were also determined. In case of the no-choice test, silicone-treated samples were not resistant according to EN 117 (2013), even though a clear reduction in mass loss had occurred. After exposure to a choice test, the modified wood samples showed 5–10 times less mass loss than control samples, even in the case of the leached specimens. This study reveals a good performance of wood modified with short-chained amino-functional siloxanes in resisting to R. flavipes when there is a choice of feeding.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Momentive Performance Materials Silicones B. V. for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wood Biology and Wood Products, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    P. Gascón-Garrido, H. Militz & C. Mai

  2. Research Unit BioWooEB, Wood Preservation Laboratory, CIRAD, 73 Rue J.F. Breton, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    M. F. Thévenon

Authors
  1. P. Gascón-Garrido
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  2. M. F. Thévenon
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  3. H. Militz
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  4. C. Mai
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Correspondence to C. Mai.

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Gascón-Garrido, P., Thévenon, M.F., Militz, H. et al. Resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) modified with short- and long-chain siloxanes to subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes). Wood Sci Technol 49, 177–187 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-014-0688-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-014-0688-2

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