Performance of methyl-tripotassiumsilanol treated wood against swelling in water, decay fungi and moulds

Abstract

Durability and dimensional stability of wood can be improved by various modification processes, including its treatment with silicones. Scots pine and Norway spruce sapwood specimens were treated by dipping method with 1, 5, 6.5, 10, 33 and 100 % water solutions of the "Lukofob 39" (20 % of the methyl-tripotassiumsilanol and 19 % of additives including KOH). For modified specimens the following properties were determined: a) resistance against thickness swelling in tangential direction by standard ASTM D4446-08 (2008); b) resistance against wood-destroying fungi Coniophora puteana, Serpula lacrymans and Trametes versicolor by modified standard EN 113 (1996); c) resistance against moulds Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. by modified standard EN 15457 (2007). Laboratory studies showed that wood products modified with organo-inorganic-silanol substances could have an increased dimensional stability in water and a higher resistance to wood-damaging fungi.