Leachability, decay, and termite resistance of wood treated with metaborates

Abstract

The formation of insoluble metaborates in wood was investigated by impregnating the wood with borax and metallic salts, after which their properties (e.g., leachability in running water and biological resistance) were evaluated. The solubility of three metaborates in acidic solutions was also evaluated. Double-diffusion treatment was carried out to form the precipitates of metaborates in sapwood specimens of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) at room temperature. Water-saturated wood specimens were first impregnated by a saturated borax solution and then diffuse-penetrated with Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, or Pb²⁺ solution. The precipitates of the three metaborates in the wood proved to be insoluble or hardly soluble in water by the leaching test. With the decay test using a brown-rot fungus (Fomitopsis palustris) and a white-rot fungus (Trametes versicolor) and with the termite test using a virulent subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus), the metaborate-treated woods showed generally good decay and termite resistance with negligible mass loss of the specimens. Particularly, the lead metaborate formed in the wood provided superb biological resistance against decay and termite attacks. In addition, the precipitates of these metaborates were found to be soluble in acidic solution, suggesting a way to remove these chemicals from wood when disposing of waste materials.