Researchers from the US University have offered a new way on how to make lumber water- and mould-resistant. The innovative lumber treatment contains no harmful chemicals, Springwise adds.
A greener alternative to traditional lumber treatment avoids the using of aggressive chemicals and is greener. With the help of Georgia Tech University, US, it would be much easier to keep wood from rotting.
As previous studies have shown, the potential negative impact that pressure-treated wood can have on the environment is inevitable. The traditional wood preservatives like chromated copper arsenate (CCA) are commonly used in the US because of their effective fungicidal and insecticidal properties. Unfortunately, CCA leads to elevated levels of arsenic in nearby soil.
To add wood water and mould-resistant qualities was the aim of the project. By taking advantage of an existing technique known as atomic layer deposition, they are depositing an ultra-thin coating of metal oxide into the cellular structure of the lumber. The coating has proven to be effective against water absorption and mould formation.
The ecological way to keep lumber from rotting
The wood is placed into a low-pressure, airtight chamber, where a metal oxide gas is introduced. The gas molecules then permeate the wood, using its interconnected pores as an internal pathway. This creates a reaction between the wood and the gas, which forms a metal oxide coating on its inner structure.
Further research is being conducted on how the metal oxide treatment will affect the biodegradability of lumber. The team is hopeful that the coating will not have a significant effect on biodegradation because of its nominal thickness.
