Abstract:

This paper presents an overall introduction of the recent developments on wood preservatives, treatment methods, modification technologies, environmental characteristics of wood preservation, and so on. On the basis of these, the major directions of wood preservation research are put forward. Water-borne preservatives are dominant now and will be in the near future, but the future wood preservatives are predicted to be some non-metal organic preservatives with superior properties. The development of wood preservation treatment methods is focused on increasing the treatability of preservatives in wood, accelerating the fixation reaction between preservatives and wood, and developing new treating processes in response to new preservative systems. The application of heat treatment and chemical modification to improve the durability of wood was also discussed. As to the environmental characteristics, the LCA (life cycle analysis) method was introduced and the methods of recycling of CCA treated waste were introduced briefly. This paper also gave a brief introduction on the associations and organizations of wood preservation as well as the wood preservations standards. The objective of this paper is to update the knowledge of wood preservation for the researchers and industries in China. It can help to set up the strategy of developing the wood preservation technologies in the needs of Chinese wood species and market, and then utilize the domestic wood resources more scientifically and efficiently.

Key words: wood, preservation technologies, preservatives, treatment methods