Micronised copper - a new wood preservative

Friday 17 Jul 2009

 
Micronised copper is a wood preservative that's been developed as a replacement for solubilised copper systems such as ACQ and Copper Azole. It was introduced to US in 2006. Since its introduction, 11.8 million cubic metres of the treated product has been sold. It's now sold in more than 4000 home centres and lumberyards and micronised preservatives account for more than 50% of treated lumber sold in the US. As well as the US, it's now in commercial use in US, England, Ireland, Turkey, Israel, Taiwan and Korea.

The current method for getting copper into wood is to dissolvethe copper in an organic solvent. Alkaline copper and copper azole products use solvents (MEA or ammonia) to dissolve the copper. Micronised preservatives don't need or use organic solvents. With micronised preservatives, a micronizing technology is used to grind copper particles so small - sub-micron size - that they can penetrate into wood in solid form.

Osmose in the recent Wood Preservation 2009 series run in mid April for wood treatment operations in New Zealand and Australia detailed the new technology, its use, benefits and current approvals that have been granted to the preservative. Included with this presentation is a separate PPT detailing recent Australian trials on the efficacy of micronized copper. Approvals for the use of the technology in this part of the world include NES/ICC approval, ERMA approval, NZS3640 application in place, APVMA (pending), AS1604 approval pending and TUMA and TMA approval.

This technology is part of 17 presentations given at the April Wood Preservation 2009 series. They have now been uploaded for the industry's use and detail a range of new process and product technologies that have or are being developed. The presentations can be downloaded now by Friday Offcuts readers through the Technology Showcase section of the website. FIEA members can access the remaining papers from either the Technology Showcase section on the Offcuts website or going directly to the Tech Updates page of the new FIEA Website. Members now have access to over 250 detailed technology papers or presentations on forest products technologies.

For further information on the technology resources, contact our FIEA offices.


Share |


Copyright 2004-2026 © Innovatek Ltd. All rights reserved.