Comparative Efficacy of Cypermethrin - Creosote and CCA - Creosote Treatments against Biodeterioration of Rubber Wood under Field Conditions

Abstract

Synthetic pyrethroids are increasingly being used as wood preservatives because of their high degree of contact toxicity, low solubility and low mammalian toxicity. A mixture of cypermethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid, with creosote is tried for its efficacy against biodeterioration of rubber wood under marine, atmospheric and soil conditions. This has been compared with the performance of CCA-creosote treatment, which has been effectively used for increasing the durability of many non-durable timbers. The compressive stress parallel to grain of the untreated,. treated and exposed panels is assessed. The creosote component imparts higher strength to the treated wood in both types of treatments. It is seen that the cypermethrin- creosote mixture imparts resistance to biodeterioration under atmospheric and soil conditions while dual treatment with Copper-Chrome -Arsenic (CCA) and creosote is more effective under marine conditions.