II.  Field Efficacy Studies

II-1. Shaw, J.L. 1994.  Results of test activity on a water-borne copper naphthenate wood preservation system.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume 90, pp. 385-394.

Due to on-going interest in Òpetroleum-freeÓ treatments and recent concerns relative to use and disposal of poles treated with creosote and pentachlorophenol/oil, tests on a waterborne copper naphthenate preservative system initiated in 1978 were completed.  Testing tool place at the Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore) filed laboratory in Bainbridge, GA.  Test activity was structured to compare the performance of waterborne copper naphthenate treatments, chromated copper aresenate (CCA), and pentachlorophenol.

As discussed in this report, the waterborne copper naphthenate material appeared to perform equivalently to specified retentions of oil-borne copper naphthenate material.  Correlation also was possible with presently specified retention levels of pentachlorophenol and CCA suggesting that the waterborne copper naphthenate system may be a practical alternative this these systems.

II-2. Harp, K. L., Grove, S. L. 1993.  Evaluation of wood and soil samples from copper naphthenate -treated utility poles in service.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume Date 1993, Volume 89, pp. 167-191.  CA: 122:242521

Data is presented on the evaluation of copper naphthenate-treated utility poles in service at five U.S. field sites.  The field sites are located in the systems of the following utilities cooperating in this evaluation: Seattle City Light, Pacific Gas and Elec., Huntsville Utilities, and Cleveland Elec. Illuminating Company.  The poles included in this work have been in service from 2 to 5 years, depending on the location.  Douglas fir and southern pine poles supplied by three different treating companies are represented in this study.  This paper presents the status of these on-going evaluations.  The primary goal of this work is to examine copper migration within the poles over time.  Increment borings were removed from near the groundline and approx. 5 ft above the groundline for each pole.  The borings were segmented into four (Douglas fir) or seven (southern pine) assay zones for anal.  Soil samples were obtained from around the base of several utility poles.  The wood and soil samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for copper content.  The results of the wood and soil analyses are summarized in this report.  For each site, comparisons are presented for the copper content of the wood borings from various positions within the poles and for soil analyses at different distances and depths from the poles.  Comparisons of the copper content in the wood borings and in the soil samples are made between the sites.

II-3. Michalenko, Edward M.; Kaczmar, Swiatoslav W.; Browne, Bryant A. 1994.  A field study of mobility of supplemental wood pole preservatives in Adirondack wetlands.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume Date 1993, Vol. 89, pp. 22-50.  CA: 121:224219

A field study and associated risk assessment was sponsored by the Empire State Elec. Energy Research Corporation (ESEERCO) and performed by O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. in order to evaluate the potential ecological and human health impacts related to the application of five supplemental wood preservatives to elec. utility transmission poles.  The field study consisted of post-application monitoring for chem. residuals and biol. impacts related to Osmoplastic, Dursban, Woodfume, Hollow Heart, and Cop-R-Nap Naphthenate.  The investigation involved 20 utility wood poles located in wetland sites of the New York State Adirondack Park.  Ground water, surface water, and soil around each treated pole were monitored for release of active ingredients and subsequent degradation products of the com. wood preservatives.  The biol. monitoring program measured carbon dioxide and methane evolutions, microbial biomes, and soil macro-invertebrates for responses to chem. exposure.  Wood preservative residues from supplementally treated poles were not found at concentrations above background levels in ground water, surface water, or soil.  The absence of detectable residues was related to a combination of phys. and chem. factors including the small original mass of applied materials, a high affinity for adsorption to wood surfaces, and an ability of the preservatives to undergo volatilization and biodegradation.  Soil micro- organism populations were not impacted by supplemental wood pole treatment as evidenced by measurements of carbon dioxide and methane evolution, and microbial biomass.  Consistent with the results of soil respiration and microbial biomass indexes, no indication of impact was observed among the invertebrate community.  Based on the results of the field study and data assessments, it can be concluded that the supplemental utility pole treatments of Osmoplastic, Dursban, Woodfume, Hollow Heart, and Cop-R-Nap do not cause measurable post-application impacts to Adirondack Park wetlands.

II-4. Engdahl, E. K., Baileys, R. T. 1993.  A report on southern pine utility poles treated with copper naphthenate.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Volume Date 1992, Volume 88, pp. 268-88.  CA: 121:159547

American Elec. Power and Koppers joined as user and producer in a cooperative effort to gather information on the use of copper naphthenate as a preservative treatment for southern yellow pine utility poles.  A total of 602 kiln-dried poles were treated during Jan 1988 at the Koppers plant in Gainesville, Florida.  These were installed in the AEP system throughout the second quarter of that year with 180 poles being selected in five operating divisions to serve as test poles for this study.  The objectives of the project are to determine treatability of full-size pole material, evaluate the preservative performance in field use and service life of the product placed in actual exposure conditions.  Test borings were removed initially when installed, then again after one and three years.     Both XRF and A-5 copper titration techniques were used as analytical methods for assay retention determinations.  The AWPA A-6 Procedure for extraction of oil-type preservatives was also used to ascertain retention of oil carrier.   Comparisons are made between aboveground and groundline borings, and among half-inch increment assay zones from 0-3 in.

II-5. Bratt, R. P.; Squirrell, D. J.; Millington, S.; Manton, G.; Hoskins, W. 1992.  Comparison of the performance of several wood preservatives in a tropical environment.  Int. Biodet. and Biodeg., Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 61-73. 

Five wood biocides (pentachlorophenol, copper-8-hydroxyquinolate, copper naphthenate, zinc naphthenate and tributyltin oxide combined with lindane) were assessed for their ability to preserve softwood in a tropical environment.  Biocide-treated wood blocks were exposed at the Joint Tropical Science Unit, Innisfail, Queensland, Australia. Only samples treated with copper naphthenate showed consistently lower levels of biodeterioration when compared with untreated control specimens.

II-6. Gutzmer, D. I.  1992.   Comparison of wood preservatives in stake tests: 1991 progress report.  Report, FPL-RN-02/91; Order No. PB92-125194.  Gov. Rep. Announce. Index (U. S.), Vol. 92(6),  Abstr. No. 214,616.   CA: 119:183093.

The report covered test stake results primarily from southern pine sapwood 2 by 4 by 18 in. in size, treated by pressure and non-pressure processes, and installed by the Forest Products Lab. and cooperators in decay and termite exposure sites at various times since 1938.  Southern pine untreated control stakes had an av. life of approximately 1 year in the Panama Canal Zone, 1.8-3.6 years in Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana, and approximately 6 years in Wisconsin.  Superficial treatments by 3-min dipping and brushing with preservatives such as coal tar creosote and petroleum oils containing copper naphthenate, zinc naphthenate, phenylmercuric oleate, and pentachlorophenol added a few months to 4 years to the life of the untreated stakes.

II-7. Greenberger, M.; Spring, R. v.; Kaplan, D. L.  1990.  Efficacy of solvent and water-based preservatives for wood.  Phase 2.  Report (1990), NATICK/TR-90/021; Order No. AD-A219704, Gov. Rep. Announce. Index (U. S.), Vol. 90(14), Abstr. No. 036,884  CA:115:31345

In order to compare the effectiveness of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered Cu- and Zn-based preservatives for wood, 8 formulations were applied to pine wood blocks for exposure in leaching, weathering and soil burial testing.  Leaching, and particularly weathering, had some effect on compressive strength of the wood block sets.  Wt. changes during soil exposure were small, as contrasted to compressive strength losses.  The compressive strength data suggested that wood preservatives can be more rapidly screened in lab soil studies than in longer term outdoor trials and that soil exposure may be a useful alternative to the American Society for Testing and Materials soil block test procedure (ASTM D1413-76).  All preservative formulations protected against wood biodeterioration.  Differences between individual formulations were small, as were generally differences between solvent- and water-based formulations of the same fungicide.  However, the statistical ranking for efficacy based on all the compressive strength data was copper naphthenate > zinc naphthenate > Cu 8-quinolinolate.  Overall, solvent-based formulations were significantly superior to water-based formulations, due to their superior penetration of the wood block interior.  To a greater extent, the better the penetration, the better is the protection, regardless of whether the fungicide is solvent- or water-borne.

II-8. Newbill, M. A.; Morrell, Jeffrey J.  1990.  Protection of western red cedar sapwood from decay.  For. Prod. J., Vol. 40(6), pp. 29-32.  CA: 113:117267.

Out of 30 chem. formulations evaluated for their ability to prevent decay of western red cedar sapwood during and after 2 year exposure on a test fence, 4 formulations, i.e. Kathon 930, TBTO, Amical 48, and NW 100 SS, provided protection equivalent to pentachlorophenol, whereas a 2nd group, i.e. Busan 1009, Busan 1030, copper naphthenate, Cu-8, and Arquad C-50, provided slightly less protection.  Whether the high degree of protection afforded by penta is necessary was unclear, but the intervals between retreatment and the variations in geographic zones of decay hazard under which red cedar poles are exposed suggest that preservatives like penta provide a margin of safety for utility companies.  Also, inability to protect the sapwood completely could permit it to decay, causing the sapwood/heartwood interface to become dissocd.

II-9. De Groot, R. C.; Link, C. L.; Huffman, J. B.  1988.  Field trials of copper naphthenate-treated wood.  Proc. - Annu. Meet. Am. Wood-Preserv. Assoc. (1988), Vol. 84, 186-200.  CA: 110:97374

The location of the test plot, i.e., Wisconsin compared to Mississippi or Florida, had a more pronounced effect on the lifetime of copper naphthenate-treated stakes than did retention of preservative.  The efficacy of copper naphthenate was species-dependent, i.e., comparable retentions protected oak stakes better than pine stakes.  In areas of high decay hazard and in regions where Cu-tolerant fungi are present, high retentions of copper naphthenate with carriers comparable to those used in these experiments would be needed to assure long-term protection of southern pine products used in ground contact.

II-10. Scheffer, T. C.; Morrell, J. J.; Newbill, M. A.  1987.  Shellrot control in western red cedar: potential replacements for pentachlorophenol spray.   For. Prod. J., Vol.37(7-8), pp.51-54.  CA: 107:156654.

Sixteen compounds or formulations, 15 of which were water-sol. solutions or water-dispersible emulsions, were evaluated as potential substitutes for pentachlorophenol in diesel oil, which is sprayed on untreated western red cedar poles in service to control sapwood decay.  Appraisals were made by trials both on wood blocks treated in the lab. and on poles treated in the field.  Quantitative comparisons were made by determining wt. losses among treated and untreated blocks exposed to a decay fungus and by Aspergillus bioassays.  Several waterborne formulations, esp. copper naphthenate and Cu 8-quinolinolate, were promising.

II-11. DeGroot, R. C.; Stroukoff, M.  1986. Efficacy of alternative preservatives used in dip treatments for wood boxes.  Research Paper, Forest Products Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, No. FPL-RP-481.

Five oilborne and 9 waterborne preservatives were compared with 5% pentachlorophenol in petroleum solvent for protecting nailed pine boxes, wire-bound gum (Nyssa sylvatica and Liquidambar styraciflua) boxes and wire bound plywood boxes.  Boxes were exposed above ground for 36 months in a jungle and in an open field in Panama and for 47 months in a partially shaded field in S. Mississippi.  Oil- and water-based formulations of copper naphthenate and water-based zinc naphthenate and Cu-8-quinolinolate performed better than pentachlorophenol in the jungle. All treatments protected pine and plywood boxes, and most were effective on gum boxes, in Mississippi.  Results from the open-field site in Panama were intermediate between those from the jungle and those from Mississippi.

II-12. Feist, W. C.  1984. The role of water repellents and chemicals in controlling mildew on wood exposed outdoors.  Research Paper, Forest Products Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, (1984) No. FPL-0247, pp. 15.

Ponderosa pine sapwood samples were dip-treated with several natural finish formulations containing fungicides alone or in combination with water repellents. They were then exposed on test fences in Mississippi, Wisconsin and Washington. Aqueous formulations of Cr salts were the most effective in controlling mildew for up to 22 months, while maintaining the natural appearance of the wood. Many formulations in mineral spirits (including water repellents and wood sealers) were effective for 5 to 9     months.  Of these types, only pentachlorophenol and copper naphthenate were effective against mildew for more than 9 months. Their effectiveness was improved by the addition of paraffin wax. Mildew growth was markedly worse in the warm humid climate of Mississippi than in Washington or Wisconsin.

II-13. Feist, W. C.; Mraz, E. A.  1980. Performance of mildewcides in a semitransparent stain wood finish.  For. Prod. J., Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 43-46. 

Fungicidal properties were evaluated for 6 commercially available chemicals as additives at 3 concentrations in a semitransparent oil-base wood stain. Outdoor exposure data on test specimens at 3 locations with distinctly different climates (in Mississippi, Washington and Wisconsin) showed that: 10% pentachlorophenol was virtually 100% effective against mildew after 18 months exposure and 60% effective after 30 months.  5% Penta was 69% and 41% effective after 18 and 30 months' exposure, respectively; and copper naphthenate (1% Cu metal) was 65% and 51% effective.  Fungicidal effectiveness varied with climate, wood substrate and preservative concentration.

II-14. Kresyzewski, J.  1977. Performance of Preserved Railway Ties.  Rep. East. For. Prod. Lab. (Can.), No. OPX183E.

Service records of preserved railway crossties have been maintained by the Eastern Forest Products Laboratory in cooperation with Canadian railways for more than 40 years. A method for rating crosstie performance is described. Results of annual inspections of test ties up to 1975 are presented in this revision. Checking, splitting, plate or rail cutting, and decay are the main defects noted. Yellow birch ties treated with copper naphthenate have a life of 25 years in secondary track. Creosoted aspen poplar ties have an average life of 23 years in low speed main track. Jack pine and hardwood ties pressure-treated with Boliden salts are expected to serve for 20 years. Red oak is superior mechanically and will last 25 years.

II-15. Krzyzewski, J.  1976.  Wood preservative evaluation by stake tests.  Rep. - East. For. Prod. Lab., (Can)., No. OPX171E.  CA87:203254.

The potential life of stakes from pine species treated with creosote, H2O- and oil-borne preservatives exceeded 17 years whereas untreated red pine stakes had an average life of 5.6 years.  Red pine stakes dip-treated with 5-10% o-phenylphenol or pressure-treated with copper formate at 0.2 lb/ft3 and pressure-impregnated with fire retardants at 1.6-3.2 lb/ft3 or with poly(vinyl acetate) at 17 lb/ft3 lasted less than 3 and 5 years, respectively.

II-16. Krzyzewski, J.; Spicer, B. G.  1974. 34 years of field testing offence posts - results of final inspection.  Rep., East. For. Prod. Lab., (Can)., No. OPX95 E.

The results of examination of 2400 untreated and treated posts of a range of Canadian species after long periods of exposure are shown in tables. The condition of the posts at the top and at the ground line was particularly studied. Posts pressure-treated with creosote were in good condition after more than 20 years; the hot-and-cold open-tank process was the most effective of the non-pressure treatments. The tests included treatments with pentachlorophenol and copper naphthenate, and diffusion and brush and dip treatments.

II-17. Gjovik, L. R.; Davidson, H. L.  1972. Comparison of wood preservatives in a Mississippi post study. U. S., Forest Serv., Res. Note (1972), FPL-01.  CA: 77:57593.

The results of 33 years of field testing of wood preservatives for fence posts made of southern pine are given.  The average life of untreated posts was 3.3 years.  Treatment with acid copper, creosote, pentachlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol or zinc metaarsenite increase the lifetime to 35-40 years, but there was some failure percentage for each treatment.

II-18. Arsenault, R. D.  1970. Field and test plot studies of pentachlorophenol stability and its preservative effectiveness in wood treated with liquefied petroleum gas-cosolvent systems and petroleum oil systems.  I.  Proc. Amer. Wood-Preserv. Assoc., Vol. 66, pp.197-217  CA: 74:65797.

Liquid petroleum gas-iso-Pr2O (I) cosolvent pentachlorophenol (II) impregnation protected wood against fungus and termites as well as II impregnation by medium-heavy P 9 oils.  Other II cosolvents, MeOH, iso-BuCOMe, polyalkylene glycol (WC-65), and tricresyl phosphate provided better protection than I.  Copper naphthenate gave better protection than Cu 8-quinolinolate when impregnated by the liquefied petroleum gas cosolvent method.

II-19. Sedziak, H. P., Shields, J. K., Krzyzewski, J.  1970.  Effectiveness of brush and dip preservative treatments for above-ground exterior exposure of wood.   Int. Biodeterior. Bull., Vol. 6(4), pp. 149-53.  CA: 75:38102.

Air seasoned white pine sash units were treated with either 2 brush coats 1 hr apart or by a 3 minute dip using one of several preservative formulations.  Ponderosa pine units were subjected to the dip only.  Following painting, the units were exposed outdoors ≤14 years in comparison to untreated painted and unpainted controls.  None of the preservative-treated units showed signs of decay.  Three untreated, unpainted and 2 untreated, painted white pine, and 3 ponderosa untreated, painted controls exhibited extensive rot.  Examination indicated that 5% pentachlorophenol and 1 and 2% copper naphthenate in mineral spirits were equally effective as preservatives regardless of method of application.

II-20. Laks, Peter E., Gutting, Kurt W., DeGroot, Rodney C.  1997  Field Performance of Wood Preservative Systems in Secondary Timber Species.   IRG/WP 97-30152  28th Annual Meeting, Whistler, Canada, 25-30May97.

The objective of this ongoing study is to evaluate the performance of new, potential, and standard wood preservative systems in secondary North American timber species. Eleven preservative systems were evaluated in this study - ACQ Type B, Copper Citrate 2:1, CDDC, chlorothalonil/chlorpyrifos, copper-8-quinolinolate, tebuconazole/chlorpyrifos, RH287, propiconazole/chlorpyrifos, copper naphthenate, CCA, and creosote. Field evaluations are being performed with ground contact field stakes and termite-specific testing in Hawaii, along with laboratory soil bed tests. The major wood species used with all the systems and evaluation methodologies are loblolly pine, northern red oak, tulip poplar, and cottonwood. More limited evaluations (field stakes only) are being conducted with eastern hemlock, red maple and sweetgum. Information is presented from laboratory soil bed, field termite, and field stake evaluations. There is good correspondence between soil bed and field stake results. The more highly developed preservative systems and those in an AWPA P9 type A oil carrier tend to perform better, and there can be a strong affect on performance from the wood species.

For more information, call toll-free (inside the U.S.) 1-800-795-4980, ext. 4, or click Contacts.

Tiffany Collins
Customer Service Representative
Tel:  800-795-4980
Fax:  713-926-3617