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Research article2009Peer reviewed

Study on some alkoxysilanes used for hydrophobation and protection of wood against decay

Panov, Dmitri; Terziev, Nasko

Abstract

Two types of silanes, namely aklylalkoxysilanes and arylalkoxysilanes, were used for wood impregnation aiming at hydrophobisation of the ligno-cellulose material. The suggested mixture of alkyltriethoxysilanes and dialkyldiethoxysilanes improved water repellence when compared to conventionally used silanes. An attempt to immobilise boric acid with the siloxane matrix was also done. Decay resistance of the treated samples was tested by soil-jar test using the brown rot fungus Postia placenta. Features of the impregnated wood such as moisture content, swelling, anti-swelling efficacy and weight percentage gain were not significantly related to the mass loss of samples caused by the fungus. Samples impregnated with EtPhSi(OEt)(2) silanes showed improved durability (3.5-11.5% mass loss). Addition of boric acid to two of the silanols showed the best result for durability of wood, i.e. the lowest mass loss of 2.3 and 1.1%. These treatments upgraded the wood to "very durable", a significant improvement from its natural status, i.e. slightly durable. The studied alkoxysilanes have moderate ability to penetrate the wood cell wall and hence to improve its hydrophobicity. These silanes are promising although more research should be carried out on the degree of oligomer polymerisation in the wood cell wall. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Alkoxysilane; Anti-swelling efficacy; Boric acid; Hydrophobisation; Postia placenta; Scots pine sapwood; Wood decay

Published in

International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation
2009, Volume: 63, number: 4, pages: 456-461 Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

      SLU Authors

    • Terziev, Nasko

      • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Forest Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2008.12.003

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/49831