Alternative wood preservatives for use in Indonesia

In Indonesia, the wood preservative chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was rec ently banned. Within the United States and Indonesia, a search for alternat ive wood preservatives is underway. Collaborative research was initiated to evaluate alternative preservatives for protection of several temperate and tropical wood species. Soil-block decay tests were conducted on southern y ellow pine 19-mm cubes. Results would be indicative of the probable perform ance of preservatives in Pinus merkusii Jungh and de Vriese, which in Indon esia, is an important species used for cooling towers. This study showed th at preservatives other than CCA can be used to protect pine sapwood from de cay fungi of importance in Indonesia. Furthermore, it is possible to achiev e with other preservatives a level of protection that is equivalent to that achieved by treatment with CCA to a target retention of 8.0 kg/m(3).