Hydrophobation of wood with organosilicon compounds - an update from the SILEX Life+ project

 
The SILEX project - Improving sustainability of construction materials using innovative Silicon based treatment- is a Life+ project. This project intends to demonstrate that a new class of Silicon-based compounds can be used to treat wood to provide extended durability. Various silicon-based hydrophobers (non film forming) were screened and tested to impregnate three European wood species. Vacuum impregnation and brushing impregnation methods were used. Project results demonstrate that treatments with selected organosilicon compounds enable effectively to minimize water absorption of wood without affecting rate of water desorption. Results indicate that fungal growth and termite feeding behaviour is affected by the treatment.