A Wood Preservative Based on Commercial Silica Nanodispersions and Boric Acid against Fungal Decay through Laboratory and Field Tests

The paper is based on the development of a wood preservative without metal salts to be used in use classes 3 and 4 (EN 335), eco-friendly and harmless to humans and animals. Boric acid was used as a biocide, due to its effectiveness against fungi and insects. It is also known to be easily leached from wood exposed to weather action. Colloidal silica was therefore added in the formulations to guarantee the fixation of boric acid to wood. The different formulations were tested for the protective efficacy against decay fungi through laboratory tests (EN 113) and field trials (EN 252). The results were promising, especially those concerning boron fixation and efficacy against decay fungi through laboratory tests, where some formulations and retentions gave a durability class 1 (very durable) according to EN 350-1. The fourth evaluation, after 50 months of field trials showed only a slight difference between the treated samples and controls.