Pressure treatment of rubberwood (Heavea brasiliensis) with waterborne micronized copper azole: Effects on retention, copper leaching, decay resistance and mechanical properties

This study objective was to investigate the biological efficacy of a commercial dispersion of micronized copper azole (MCA) on plantation grown rubberwood. MCA is a formulation containing micronized copper carbonates and azole, an organic co-biocide. The impact of MCA pressure treatments with various concentrations of the active ingredients and the treatment durations on retentions, leaching rate, mechanical properties and biological performance against brown and white rots were evaluated. Biological performance of MCA treated rubberwood at minimum retention of 2.8 +/- 0.3 kg/m(3) was found to be comparable to that of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treatment at 15.1 +/- 2.3 kg/m(3). Field tests are being conducted to confirm the laboratory findings. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.