Preservation of timber in the tropics (Forestry Sciences, 17)

Much research has been done recently, and more is now in progress, to increase the effectiveness under tropical conditions of methods which have been developed in Europe for preserving timber. This book attempts to bring together the results of some of these studies. I have not attempted to cover the tropical zones of Central and South America as this would have extended the book beyond its limits. But I am grateful to the authors who have contributed chapters dealing with the different aspects and solutions of the problems of the tropical areas of the Old World. The International Research Group for Wood Preservation (The I.R.G.) at its annual meetings in different countries has provided a valuable forum for cooperation in this developing field. Anyone concerned with the subject would be well advised to study the publications issued by this group. Their office is at Drottning Kristinas vag 47C S - 11428 Stockholm, Sweden. Although timber is a renewable resource there is every reason why it should not be wasted through premature decay or the ravages of termites etc., when effective measures for its preservation are available and, if correctly applied, can greatly reduce the cost of maintaining timber structures. Front Matter....Pages I-X The nature and durability of wood....Pages 1-13 Agencies of destruction....Pages 15-41 Preservative methods....Pages 43-57 Preservative substances....Pages 59-74 Protection of logs and sawn timber....Pages 75-119 Treatment of wood by diffusion....Pages 121-140 Copper/Chrome/Arsenic (CCA) Wood preservatives and their application to timbers in the tropics....Pages 141-155 Preservation of marine timbers....Pages 157-191 The durability and preservation of West African timbers....Pages 193-203 Field testing of wood preservatives in tropical countries....Pages 205-231 Preservative treatment of bamboo, rubber wood and coconut palm. Simple methods for treating building timbers....Pages 233-262 Economic aspects of wood preservation....Pages 263-266 Back Matter....Pages 267-273