LECTURE 7: Timber preservation

Introduction

Preservation of timber can be defined as protecting timber from fungi and insect attack so that its life is
increased. Timber is to be well seasoned before application of preservatives. Since preservation increases
life to timber, it makes timber more durable therefore can be used for longer periods. It also helps the
timber to get rid of insects, fungi etc. Preservation is done by using different types of preservatives.

NOTE

If preservation is not done, then wood will be diseased and damaged badly as shown in figure below.

Properties of good timber preservative

The preservative used to protect the timber should contain following requirements or properties.

• It should be effortlessly and cheaply available.

• It should not contain any harmful substances, gases etc.
• It should cover larger area with small quantity. Hence, it should be economical.
• Decorative treatment or any surface treatment should be allowed on timber after the application
of preservative.
 • Strength of timber should not be affected by the preservative.
• It should not contain any unpleasant smell.
• It should not get affected by light, heat, water etc.
• It should not get affected by fungi, insects etc. and should also efficient to kill them.
• It should not generate flame when contacts with fire.
• It should not corrode metals when it makes a contact with them.
• The depth of penetration of preservative in wood fibers should be minimum 6mm to 25mm.

Types of timber preservatives.

✓ Coal tar
✓ ASCO
✓ Chemical salts
✓ Paints
✓ Creosote oil

Coal tar this is heated so as to obtain liquid hot tar which is then applied on timber surface using brush.
Coal tar contains unpleasant smell and does not allow paint on it. So, it is used for door frames, window
frames etc. It is very cheap and has good fire resistance.
ASCO is a special preservative which is available in powder form. It is dissolved in water to get preservative
solution. It should be added 6 portions by weight of ASCO in 100 portions by weight of water. The final
solution is applied on timber by spraying. This solution does not contain any odor. It is useful mainly to get
rid of from white ants. ASCO contains hydrated arsenic pent oxide, copper sulphate or blue vitriol and
sodium dichromate or potassium dichromate in it. After applying ASCO, the timber can be coated with
paint, varnished etc.

Chemical salts, Salts like copper sulphate, mercury chloride and zinc chloride are used as preservative
which can be dissolved in water to get liquid solution. They are odorless and do not generate flames when
contact with fire.

Paints are suitable for well-seasoned timber. They are generally applied in 2 or 3 coats. Paints, especially
Oil paints prevents timber from moisture. If timber is not seasoned, then oil paints may lead to decay of
timber by confining sap. Example, Solignum paints are well suitable for preserving timber from termites.
Solignum paints can be used by adding color pigments so that timber has good appearance. Consider the
illustration below.
Creosote oil is prepared by the distillation of tar. It is black or brown in color. It contains unpleasant smell.
It is applied in a special manner. Firstly, the timber is well seasoned and dried. Then, it is placed in airtight
chamber and inside air is pumped out. Finally creosote oil is pumped into the chamber with high pressure
about 0.7 to 1 N/mm2 at a temperature of 50oC. After allowing it for 2 hours, the timber absorbs creosote
oil sufficiently and taken out from the chamber. Creosote oil is flammable so, it is not used for timber works
in fireplaces. It is generally used for wood piles, poles, railway sleepers etc.

Methods of timber preservation

✓ Brushing
✓ Spraying
✓ Injecting under pressure
✓ Dipping and stepping
✓ Charring
✓ Hot and cold open tank treatment

Brushing, this is the simplest method of applying preservatives. For well-seasoned timber, oil type
preservatives are applied with good quality brushes. For better results, the applied preservative should be
in hot condition. Multiple coats should be applied and certain time interval should be maintained between
successive coats.
Spraying is an effective technique than brushing. In this case, preservative solution is sprayed on to the
surface using spray gun. It is time saving and quite effective.

Injecting under pressure, in this the preservative is injected into the timber under high pressure
conditions. Generally, creosote oil is applied in this manner which is already discussed above. It is costly
treatment process and required special treatment plant.
Dipping and Stepping, dipping is another type of preserving in which, timber is dipped directly in the
preservative solution. Hence, the solution penetrates the timber better than the case of brushing or
spraying. In Some case, the stepping or wetting of timber with preservative solution is allowed for few days
or weeks which is also quite effective process.

Charring is burning of timber surface, which is quite an old method of preservation of timber. In this
method, the timber surface is wetted for 30 minutes and burnt up to a depth of 15mm from top surface.
The burnt surface protects the inner timber from termites, fungi, etc. This method is not suitable for exterior
wood works so, it is applied for wood fencing poles, telephone pole bottoms etc.
Hot and Cold Open Tank Treatment, in this method, the timber is placed in an open tank which contains
preservative solution. This solution is then heated for few hours at 85 to 95 degree Celsius. Then, the
solution is allowed to cool and timber gets submerged with this gradual cooling. This type of treatment is
generally done for sap wood.

Uses timber

Timber is used for the following works

• For heavy construction works e.g columns, trusses, piles.

• For light construction works e.g doors, windows, flooring and roofing
• For other permanent works e.g railway sleepers, fencing poles, electric etc.
• For temporary works in construction e.g scaffolding, shoring and strutting.
• For decorative works e.g showcases and furnitures.
• For body works e.g boats, cars
• For industrial uses eg. Pulps for making papers, card boards etc.
• For making sports goods and musical instruments.
Industrial timber

Industrial timber is timber product manufactured scientifically in factories. Because of its scientific nature,
it is stronger and durable than ordinary timber materials. It also contains desired shape and size. Consider
the illustration below.

Types of Industrial Timber

• Veneers
• Plywood
• Fiber boards
• Impreg timbers
• Compreg timbers
• Hard boards
• Glulam
• Chip board
• Block board
• Flush door shutters

Veneers are thin layers of wood which are obtained by cutting the wood with sharp knife in rotary cutter.
In rotary cutter, the wood log is rotated against the sharp knife or saw and cuts it into thin sheets. These
thin sheets are dried in kilns and finally veneers are obtained. Veneers are used to manufacture different
wood products like plywood, block boards etc.
Plywood, Ply means thin. Plywood is a board obtained by adding thin layers of wood or veneers on one
above each other. The joining of successive layers is done by suitable adhesives. The layers are glued and
pressed with some pressure either in hot or cold condition. Plywood has so many uses. It is used for doors,
partition walls, ceilings, paneling walls, formwork for concrete etc. Due to its decorative appearance, it is
used for buildings like theaters, auditoriums, temples, churches, restaurants etc. in architectural purpose.

Fiber boards, Fiber boards are made of wood fibers, vegetable fibers etc. They are rigid boards and called
as reconstructed wood. The collected fibers are boiled in hot water and then transferred into closed vessel.
Steam with low pressure is pumped into the vessel and pressure increased suddenly. Due to sudden
increment of pressure, the wood fibers explode and natural adhesive gets separated from the fibers. Then
they are cleaned and spread on wire screen in the form of loose sheets. This matter is pressed in between
steel plates and finally fiber boards are obtained. Fiber boards are used for several purposes in construction
industry such as for wall paneling, ceilings, partitions, flush doors, flooring material etc. They are also used
as sound insulating material.

Impreg timber is a timber covered fully or partly with resin. Thin layers of wood or veneers are taken
and dipped in resin solution. Generally used resin is phenol formaldehyde. The resin solution fills up the
voids in the wood and consolidated mass occurs. Then it is heated at 150 to 160oC and finally impreg
timber develops. This is available in market with different names such as sungloss, sunmica, Formica etc.
Impreg timber has good resistance against moisture, weathering, acids and electricity. It is strong, durable
and provides beautiful appearance. It is used for making wood molds, furniture, decorative products etc.
Compreg timber, this is similar to impreg timber but in this case, the timber is cured under pressure
conditions. So, it is more strengthened than impreg timber. Its specific gravity lies from 1.30 to 1.35.

Hard board is usually 3 mm thick and made from wood pulp. Wood pulp is compressed with some pressure
and made into solid boards. The top surface of board is smooth and hard while the bottom surface is rough.
Consider the illustration below.

Hard boards are generally classified into three types i.e medium, normal and tempered as shown in the
table below.

Types Density (kg/m3) Available thickness (mm)

Medium 480 – 800 6,8,10,12

Normal 800-1200 [Link].9.12

Tempered >1200 3,4,5,6,9,12

Glulam means glued and laminated wood. Solid wood veneers are glued to form sheets and then laminated
with suitable resins. This type of sheet is very much suitable in the construction of chemical factories, long
span roofs in sports stadium, indoor swimming pools etc.

Chip boards are another type of industrial timber which are made of wood particles or rice husk ash.
These are dissolved in resins for some time and heated. After then it is pressed with some pressure and
boards are made. These are also called particle boards.
Block board is a board containing core made of wood strips. The wood strips are generally obtained from
the leftovers from solid timber conversion etc. These strips are glued and made into solid form. Veneers
are used as faces to cover this solid core. The width of core should not exceed 25mm. If the width of core
is less than 7mm then it is called as lamin board. Block boards are generally used for partitions, paneling,
marine and river crafts, railway carriages etc.

Flush door shutters these are made in factories and are widely used nowadays. They are generally
available with 25mm, 30mm or 35mm thicknesses. Factory made flush board shutters are of different types
such as cellular core, hollow core, block board core etc. Consider the illustration the illustration of flush
door shutters below.
Self check

i. Mention five uses of timber

ii. Write a letter to your best friend telling him how you are fully proffesional in timber preservation.
iii. Why do we preserve timber?
iv. For your understanding, what is the best method to apply during timber preservation.
v. Broadly describe Engineered timbers.