Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of thermal modification and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) particle impregnation on the deterioration of Caribbean pine wood under field conditions. Samples were thermally-modified at various temperature levels (control, 180 °C, 200°C, and 220 °C). Nano-ZnO impregnation was done with an aqueous solution at 1,5 % in an autoclave under two-steps of pressure and vacuum. Unmodified and thermally-modified, non-impregnated and nano-ZnO impregnated samples were exposed to deterioration for five months in field tests. A deterioration index was used to evaluate the health condition of the samples. The mass loss and occurrence of termite tunnels in percentage were also determined. The nano-ZnO impregnation improved the resistance of unmodified wood to field-deterioration. The thermal modification at 180oC, and 200oC increased the wood deterioration and nano-ZnO impregnation did not improve their resistance. Unmodified and 220 oC modified samples had a lower mass loss by xylophages than other thermal treatments regardless of the nanoparticle impregnation. The nano-ZnO impregnation decreases the occurrence of termite tunnels in unmodified, 200 oC and 220 oC-modified samples
Highlights
Wood is an organic material subject to the action of biotic and abiotic deterioration
It is necessary to use products and processes that increase its resistance to deterioration in order to optimize its use, especially when the environmental conditions as in Brazil favor the action of xylophage agents
The biological resistance of wood can be improved through treatments that add characteristics that hinder or inhibit the action of these xylophage organisms (Vidal et al 2015)
Summary
Wood is an organic material subject to the action of biotic and abiotic deterioration. It is necessary to use products and processes that increase its resistance to deterioration in order to optimize its use, especially when the environmental conditions as in Brazil favor the action of xylophage agents. The biological resistance of wood can be improved through treatments that add characteristics that hinder or inhibit the action of these xylophage organisms (Vidal et al 2015). In Brazil, there is no restriction on the use of CCA for the preservation of wood. In North America and Europe, its use, mainly due to the arsenic component, has been restricted due to environmental and human health issues, being limited to certain classes of exposure to biological risks that do not involve direct contact with the being such as domestic use. The wood preservation sector has been searching for methods that can replace the use of CCA, mainly in applications where the product has been banned
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