SOME MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WOOD IMPREGNATED WITH ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BORON AND COPPER BASED CHEMICALS

The aim of this study was made to determine some mechanical properties such as compression strength parallel to grain (CSPG), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) of wood treated with some boron and copper based wood preservatives. Boric acid (BA), borax (BX), and boric acid and borax mixture were used as boron compounds. Adolith- KD 5 (Ad-KD) and tanalith-e (TN-E) were used as copper based wood preservatives. Also, copper- chromium-boron (CCB) was used as boron and copper containing wood preservative. Wood specimens were prepared from Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Before tests, wood specimens were treated with aqueous solutions 4 percent of chemicals according to ASTM D 1413-76. Our results showed that CSPG, MOR, and MOE of wood specimens treated with chemicals were lower compared to untreated control specimen. Preservative treatments caused the most decrease in MOR followed by CSPG and MOE of both wood specimens, respectively. While the lowest CSPG and MOR of both wood specimens were obtained impregnated with BA, TN-E gave the best results in terms of CSPG, MOR, and MOE of both wood specimens.