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A modified laboratory method for assessing preservative barrier efficacy in refractory hardwoods application to Eucalyptus nitens1.27 MB
Published Version (Advanced Access)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A modified laboratory method for assessing preservative barrier efficacy in refractory hardwoods: application to Eucalyptus nitens
Wood Material Science and Engineering, Vol.Advanced access
2025
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Shallow penetration of preservative treatments in hardwoods like Eucalyptus nitens limits their suitability for above-ground outdoor use under Australian Standards. This study introduces a novel laboratory methodology to rapidly evaluate the performance of shallow CCA-treated barriers against fungal decay. Wafer-cube assemblies were constructed from untreated E. nitens boards and CCA-treated thin wafers, and exposed to accelerated decay tests using the brown rot isolate Fomitopsis ostreiformis. Various surface coating systems were applied to restrict fungal ingress to the treated face alone. Decay resistance was assessed using a visual rating scale from 0 (no decay) to 3 (severe decay), and supported by culturing assays to detect internal fungal penetration. Results demonstrated that coating system and barrier depth strongly influenced fungal exclusion, with latex + varnish and waterproofing + varnish systems achieving the lowest mean decay ratings (0.3–0.7) at 6 mm depth. These differences were statistically significant (χ² = 93.7, df = 30, p < 0.001). Fungal isolation frequency also declined significantly with increasing preservative depth and was strongly affected by coating type (p < 0.001, three-way ANOVA). The method enabled controlled comparison of barrier systems and demonstrated its utility as a screening tool for preservative performance in refractory species.
Details
- Title
- A modified laboratory method for assessing preservative barrier efficacy in refractory hardwoods: application to Eucalyptus nitens
- Authors
- Juan Roberto Vargas (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design LifeLuis Yermán - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design LifeKyra C. Wood - University of TasmaniaTripti Singh - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
- Publication details
- Wood Material Science and Engineering, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- DOI
- 10.1080/17480272.2025.2547843
- ISSN
- 1748-0280; 1748-0272
- Copyright note
- © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Grant note
- This research was supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life Scholarship (DVCRI-2101-MORRELL – NIFPI University of Tasmania Accelerated Decay Testing) as part of the author's doctoral scholarship.
- Organisation Unit
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991155635302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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