Description
The aim of the project is to investigate experimentally the effect of non-biocidal, eco-friendly novel substances introduced into model wood protection systems. The main objective is to design new treatment systems as an alternative to traditional preservatives and coatings. Effective, durable and eco-friendly wood preservation will encourage architects, designers and engineers to use this environmentally friendly raw material more extensively. The main steps of the project are: process optimization by eco additives selection; multi scale process optimization; environmental and societal analysis from the process to the treated timbers. The expected beneficiaries are architects and wood preservatives formulators. Good impregnation of wood products, providing effective protection, has economic, environmental/ecological and social aspects. Norwegian partner will provide necessary analyses of wood treated with new protection systems designed and prepared by Polish partners. The project will strengthen the collaboration between Polish and Norwegian research units.
Summary of project results
The assumptions and results of the project turned out to be a starting point for the change of way of thinking about wood protection. It concerns products of so-called DIY market. The so far used products are based on biocidal substances. Their effectiveness, although proved and confirmed in lab-scale testing, are relatively low in practice. This is due to a lack of knowledge about the application methods. There is no control over the application rate, wood moisture content, as well as product residues that is hazardous waste. According to the results obtained from study and experiments, the effectiveness of such products does not differ much from products that does not contain fungicides. As a result of the research project, it has been confirmed that strong effect of wood hydrophobation directly affects its increased durability. Moreover, it is possible to replace synthetic fungicides commonly used in wood protection with natural biologically active substances. The advantage of such substances is that they doesn’t exhibit undesirable side-effects and are safe for humans and the environment. The newly developed protective formulation containing aminosilane and caffeine has been proved to be an effective, biocompatible and modern solution for DIY wood preservatives. Its durability was also confirmed in the context of ageing processes. The recipe of the product is very simple. It is composed of two components, one synthetic, serving as a hydrophobic agent and the other, natural, being a substitute for a fungicide. Such a composition provides a user- and environmentally-friendly solution for effective wood protection.
Summary of bilateral results
The most important achievement of the bilateral agreement is factual knowledge obtained during the project implementation. This mainly concerns mycological tests. Thanks to the bilateral cooperation the scientific skills of the technical staff were improved. Some innovative methodologies in laboratory work have also been implemented. Moreover, the overall availability of a laboratory equipment that belongs to the individual partners allowed for efficient performance of all scientific experiments. The funds allocated for bilateral cooperation have been used in a strictly defined way, according to the agreement. They were used not only to achieve the scientific aim of the project, but also to deliver seminars and study visits to partners as well as ad hoc working meetings. They allowed to deepen the whole consortium knowledge and take advantage of the experience of the team working in the mycological and chemical laboratory. It should be stressed, however, that the innovative research idea and the way of project implementation was proposed by the Polish party. The Norwegian partner was a contractor in the project, ensuring the proper performance of the specific scientific tasks thanks to the experience and laboratory equipment. Thanks to the cooperation scientific research on the use of siloxanes in archaeological wood conservation has already been carried out within the new research project “Cultural heritage – research into innovative solutions and methods for historic wood conservation” (NPRH, no. 2bH 15 0037 83). Owing to this the cooperation with the Norwegian partner will bring further joint publications on modification, impregnation and conservation of wood.