Evaluation of borate formulations as wood preservatives to control subterranean termites in Australia

Holzforschung ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.M. Ahmed ◽  
J.R.J. French ◽  
P. Vinden

Abstract The termiticidal efficacy of sodium octaborate tetrahydrate, boric acid, borester-7, and tri-methyl borate as wood preservatives was evaluated after each was impregnated into seasoned sapwood of Pinus radiata D. Don and Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell in laboratory bioassay against Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt). There was clear difference between the different borate retentions in treated and untreated blocks, mass loss, and mortality rate of the termite used in the bioassay units. After 8 weeks of laboratory bioassay, the results suggested that borate was toxic to termites even at 0.24% m/m BAE and caused significant termite mortality, but termites were not deterred from attacking the borate-treated timber at a higher retention of >2.0% m/m BAE. These laboratory results indicated that the minimum borate treatment required to protect timber against termite attack and damage was >1.0% m/m BAE.

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Sudo Hadi ◽  
Muh Yusram Massijaya ◽  
Dodi Nandika ◽  
Wa Ode Muliastuty Arsyad ◽  
Imam Busyra Abdillah ◽  
...  

Abstract Smoke treatment can be used to enhance wood resistance to subterranean termite attack. In this study, kesambi (Schleichera oleosa) wood was pyrolyzed to produce charcoal. The smoke produced as a by-product of pyrolysis was used to treat sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba), mangium (Acacia mangium), and pine (Pinus merkusii) wood samples for 1, 2, or 3 weeks. Following the smoke treatment, the wood specimens were exposed to subterranean termites (Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren) according to the Indonesian standard 7207-2014 in a laboratory. The color change caused by smoke treatment was observed, and chemical analysis of smoke was also done. The results showed that chemical compounds of kesambi smoke predominantly consisted of acetic acid, phenol, ketones, amines, and benzene. The color of smoked wood became darker, less yellow, and a little redder, while a longer smoking period produced a darker color which was more resistant to termite attack. Smoke treatment enhanced the resistance of wood to subterranean termite attack, and the resistance levels were not significantly different based on the duration of the smoke treatment.


Holzforschung ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 326-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie James Cookson ◽  
Damian Kile Scown ◽  
Kevin James McCarthy ◽  
Narelle Chew

Abstract Timber specimens were impregnated with the organo-silicate tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in an effort to deposit hard silica granules and improve resistance to wood-borers. Trials were conducted against marine borers (teredinids and Limnoria), the termite Coptotermes acinaciformis, and the wood-boring beetle Lyctus brunneus. A 14-week laboratory bioassay against C. acinaciformis showed that treated Pinus radiata containing 16.7 wt.% silica was as readily attacked as untreated timber. However, a 3-year laboratory trial of treated Castanospermum australe showed that attack by L. brunneus was prevented by 10.3 wt.% silica, and reduced by 0.7 and 3.4 wt.% silica. A trial of wood treated with copper-chromium-arsenic followed by silicon was conducted in the sea at Townsville, Australia for 7 years. Double treatment with 6.7 or 19.2 wt.% silica prevented attack in P. radiata by teredinids, while for CCA alone some replicates failed. In the same trial, double-treated Corymbia maculata with lower silica retention failed. Silica granules may overwhelm the food and waste-sorting mechanisms in teredinids and lyctine larvae, whereas borers, requiring less intimate contact with granules (Limnoria and termites), or those that do not ingest wood for food (Sphaeroma and Martesia), are little affected.


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