Evaluation of marine borers attack on treated wood in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract Wood in marine environments requires protection against xylophagous, and to increase the effectiveness of the preservatives, it is first necessary to know environmental conditions and species of wood borers present. The durability of treated Pinus taeda wood against the attack of marine borers in different environments was investigated, with (1) burnt oil, by the hot-cold bath method; (2) paraffin, by the Bethell method; (3) superficial burning of the wood with oil application, known as shou sugi ban technique; and (4) impermeable rubber, with and without the addition of silica, by immersion. The experiment was adapted from the standard EN 275 (1992) and carried out in three areas, one located in a river and two in estuarine coastal areas of the Paranaguá Bay (Brazil). Based on the percentage of lost wood area, the treatment with impermeable rubber with the addition of silica showed the best performance at the local 1 site (26.3%). At the local 2 site, treatments with impermeable rubber with and without the addition of silica had the lowest percentages of loss, with mean values of 13.95 and 12.65%, respectively. The other treatments had losses above 30%, being classified as severe damage, meaning they are not suitable for this use.