Biological resistance of Eucalyptus wood treated with Chromated Copper Borate to fungi decay

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a preservative treatment with Chromated Copper Borate (CCB) in different concentrations and autoclave pressure time on the biological resistance of Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis (called urograndis). Urograndis fence posts were submitted to industrial autoclaving in nine treatments as a function of CCB concentration and pressure time: 1.5% (30, 60 and 90 minutes); 2.0% (30, 60 and 90 minutes); and 2.5% (30, 60 and 90 minutes). Then the obtained specimens were submitted to an accelerated laboratory decay test. The industrial preservative treatment increased the resistance of the wood to decay and the concentration of 1.5% CCB and 30 minutes of autoclave pressure can be applied to treat urograndis wood without compromising its resistance to the attack of white-rot and brown-rot fungi.