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Improvement of termite resistance, dimensional stability and mechanical properties of pine wood by paraffin impregnation

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Abstract

Paraffin has been used as surface protection of wood throughout the ages but its use for impregnation to improve wood resistance to biodegradation is recent. This study determined the main improvements on wood properties with paraffin impregnation. Healthy Pinus pinaster Ait. wood was impregnated with paraffin at different levels using a hot–cold process. Weight gain, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability (ASE) at 35 and 65 % relative humidity, termite durability against Reticulitermes grassei (Clément), bending strength, bending stiffness (MOE) and Janka hardness were determined. Density increased from 0.57 to 0.99, ASE ranged between 38–96 % and 16–71 % for 35 and 65 % relative humidity, respectively. Equilibrium moisture content decreased from 9.9 and 12.0 % to 0.8 and 3.6 % for 35 and 65 % relative humidity. Termite durability improved from level 4 to level 3 of attack, and higher termite mortality was found in treated wood (52 % against 17 %). Bending strength (MOR) increased with paraffin weight gain, reaching a 39 % increase. MOE also increased by about 13 % for wood with a weight gain around 80 %. Janka hardness increased significantly reaching about 40 % for wood with 80 % weight gain. Paraffin impregnated wood has improved properties with regard to equilibrium moisture content, dimensional stability and density, bending strength and Janka hardness, and resistance against termites.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through projects PEst-OE/CED/UI4016/2014 and Pest-OE-AGR-UI0239-2013, and the Center for Studies in Education, Technologies and Health (CI&DETS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Centre for the Study of Education, Technologies and Health (CI&DETS), Viseu, Portugal

    Bruno Esteves & Idalina Domingos

  2. Timber Structures Division, Structures Department, National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC), Lisbon, Portugal

    Lina Nunes

  3. School of Agriculture, Forest Research Centre (CEF), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Helena Pereira

Authors
  1. Bruno Esteves
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  2. Lina Nunes
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  3. Idalina Domingos
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  4. Helena Pereira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bruno Esteves.

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Esteves, B., Nunes, L., Domingos, I. et al. Improvement of termite resistance, dimensional stability and mechanical properties of pine wood by paraffin impregnation. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 72, 609–615 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0823-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-014-0823-7

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