Investigating the Efficacy of Established Chemical Wood Modifications on Large-Diameter Pine: Durability Against Basidiomycetes

TL;DR

This study shows that chemical treatments can make large pine trees more durable against fungi, making them suitable for use in construction.

Contribution

The study evaluates the effectiveness of chemical wood modifications on large-diameter pine trees for fungal durability.

Findings

All treated samples showed median mass loss <5%, classifying them as highly durable against tested fungi.

DMDHEU treatment showed variability in durability against Coniophora puteana.

The inner part of the end section had higher mass loss, indicating poor treatment retention.

Abstract

In Germany, Pinus sylvestris is a dominant tree species, and many trees with large diameters are not utilised due to difficulties with processing. However, older pines have larger volumes of sapwood, and boards with a high sapwood content can be produced. The durability of boards from large-diameter (>50 cm) P. sylvestris trees, treated with furfurylation, acetylation, DMDHEU (1.3-dimethylol-4.5-dihydroxyethyleneurea), and SorCA (Sorbitol/Citric Acid), was assessed. The samples were taken from different sections along the longitudinal axis and the cross-section. The durability was tested against Coniophora puteana, Rhodonia placenta, and Trametes versicolor, according to the EN 113-2 standard. All treatments had a median mass loss < 5%, so classed as “highly durable” (Durability Class 1) against all fungi. DMDHEU had a large deviation in mass loss against Coniophora puteana and could potentially be classified as “moderately durable” (Durability Class 3), if based on the mean mass loss. The inner part of the end section had a higher mass loss, indicating that there was poorer retention of the treatment at this location. Overall, chemical modifications on large-diameter pine trees were effective at increasing durability. Utilising large-diameter pine trees can help to make use of regional resources and potentially reduce reliance on imported timber. With favourable mechanical properties and easy-to-treat sapwood, large-diameter P. sylvestris trees could be used for commercial treatments.

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