Outdoor Wood

1) Thermo Wood
2) Wolmanit CX-8 Treated Pine Wood
3) Natural Bangkirai / Douglas Fir / Cedar

What are CCA, ACQ, and Wolmanit CX-8?

( I ) CCA Treated Pine
Hazardous to health and is responsible for a lot of sick and disabled people. Therefore it was banned 4 years ago by most European countries and starting December 2003 it is also forbidden in the USA. Please have a look at the homepage of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency:
Cancellation of Residential Uses of CCA-Treated Wood
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/residential_use_cancellation.htm

What is CCA?

CCA stands for Chromated Copper Arsenate, a wood preservative formulation containing copper, chromium and arsenic. The copper acts as the main fungicide and the Arsenic provides protection against termites and copper-tolerant decay fungi. The CCA impregnation is extremely durable and protects the wood for many decades (40-50).

Whenever a factory is promising a lifetime for pressure treated pine of at least 50 years they are using CCA!

( II ) ACQ Treated Pine:
ACQ stands for Alkaline Copper Quat, a wood preservative formulation that contains copper and quaternary ammonium compound (quat) as active ingredients. It is not as poisonous as the CCA and effectively protects wood approx.10-15 years.

( III ) Wolmanit CX-8 Treated Pine:
Most environmental friendly products, pressure impregnation to Wolmanit CX-8.

What is Wolmanit CX-8?

Wolmanit CX-8 is based on inorganic copper and boron compounds and other organic ingredients.
The difference to the ACQ treatment lies in the special copper (Bis-N-Cyclohexyldiazeniumdioxy-copper) it contains. These active agents have been tested extensively upon their toxicological and eco-toxicological properties. They are found to be:

NON-CARCINOGENIC
NON-MUTAGENIC
NON-TERATOGENIC
NON-SENSIBILISHING

As the Wolmanit CX-8 works very similar to the ACQ impregnation the durability and protection is exactly the same.

ALTERNATIVES

Thermo Heat-Treated Timber
After treatment, the result is a dark brownish coloured wood with improved stability and weather resistance. It is excellent for the use outside.
Disadvantages are a funny smell (like in a wood sauna) which will disappear after some weeks. Furthermore UV rays will grey the wood in a very short period of time. Especially for this reason OSMO developed the "thermo wood oil".

1) Thermo Wood

Heat treatment involves heating wood material to a temperature of at least 180 o C while at the same time protecting it with steam. The steam protects the wood, but it also influences the chemical changes taking place in wood. Heat treatment involves using heat and water vapour to produce environmentally-friendly modified (wood) products, which are free of any impregnation substances.

Heat treatment impacts on several wood properties changing them permanently. The dimensional stability of wood significantly improves in conditions where the moisture lever varies. Also, the thermal insulation properties of wood thus treated are superior to those of non-treated wood. The effect of treatment applied at a sufficiently high temperature is such that wood becomes decays-resistant. Heat treatment does cause a slight reduction in the strength properties of wood. Heat treatment can be successfully applied to the wood of nearly all tree species. The lovely shades of colours produced by heat treatment can be preserved by apply oil or pigments to the wood surface.

(Thermo Wood) PROCESSED PRODUCTS

In addition to standard classes it is possible to produce ThermoWood in higher or lower temperatures for special purposes. Since the ThermoWood material to be supplied to industrial customers is heat treated in accordance with the agreements between the purchaser and producer, the treatment level can be carefully optimized according to the end use application.

APPLICATIONS

ThermoWood can be used in many end uses without the need for special adjustments, for example, claddings, terrace products, floorings, panels and sauna products. The furniture and joinery industries can utilize ThermoWood in many ways to provide a superior final product. See Table 1.

Table 1 : Applications

Floor made of heat-treated birch at Tennispalatsi in Helsinki

Garden furnuture made of heat-treated pine

Heat Treatment Phases

HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS
During the heat treatment wood is exposed to temperatures of 190-250 °c for approximately 2 to 4 hours.

During the first stage, the temperature inside the kiln is increased. After the heating stage, the actual heat treatment occurs at a high temperature. During the last stage, the wood is carefully cooled before it can be safely removed from the kiln.

EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT

Heat treatment results in 10-16% reduction in equilibrium moisture, up to 90% reduction in moisture deformations and decreased absorption of liquids. The treatment ensures increased durability against decay and mould, increased insulation properties, hardness and a darker colour. The reduction in bending strength is -15...+20% and in splitting strength 0-50% depending on the level of treatment.

ThermoWood® -- Properties

1．Density
The density is measured by measuring the weight and the dimensions of the sample. The unit of density is kg/m3. The ThermoWood process reduces by between 5-10% on average.

2．Strength
Generally the strength of wood has strong correlation with density. Heat treated wood has slightly lower density and therefore it is obvious, that ThermoWood® has in some cases lower strength values, but weight-strength-value can be practically unchanged.

● Bending strength
ThermoWood at temperatures below 200oC does not have significant effect on bending strength. Some reduction compared with untreated wood can found in higher temperatures. However it has been found that the ThermoWood process ahs a positive effect on the modulus of elasticity. It is recommended that ThermoWood is NOT used for loading bearing structural usage.

● Compression strength
The Compression strength is mainly dependent on the actual density of wood. According to tests it is proved that the heat treatment process has no negative effect on the compression strength values. In some cases the results actually prove that the value were better than with normal kiln dried wood.

● Splitting strength
The TermoWood process can cause some reduction in the splitting strength depending on heat treatment temperature.

● Screw holding strength
The screw holding strength has a strong correlation with density. The bigger effect on screw holding strength comes from the general variance in wood density rather than from the ThermoWood process. It was found that material with lower density the results were better when narrower pre-drill holes were used.

3．Hardness
The Brinell hardness value improves slightly with the ThermoWood process.

4．Equilibrium moisture content
The ThermoWood process leads to a reduction in equilibrium moisture content. In high temperature treated wood the equilibrium moisture content can be 40-50 percent lower compared to untreated wood.

5．Stability
Because of lower equilibrium moisture content the tangential and radial swelling decreases significantly.

6．Permeability
The ThermoWood process reduces the water uptake of wood significantly.

7．Thermal properties
The tests have shown that the thermal conductivity of ThermoWood® is 20-25% lower compared to untreated wood.

8．Biological durability
Standard tests (EN 113, ENV 807) made in laboratory conditions showed a significant improvement in biological durability. ThermoWood is recommended to be used in hazard classes 1 to 3 in accordance with EN-335-1 without the need for any further chemical protection.

9．Weather resistance
According to various field tests it has been found that ThermoWood® has about half the moisture conent compared to untreated wood.

As with most natural materials, ThermoWood is unable to resist ultra violet radiation. As a result over period of time when exposed to direct sunlight, the colour changes from the original brown appearance to a grey weathered color. Ultra violet radiation can cause small surface shakes on un-coated boards.

As a conclusion from the effects of ultra violet radiation (sunlight), it is highly recommended to apply a pigment based surface protection to prevent colour changes and surface shakes.

The Heat-Treated Process is suitable for all types of timber. So far, spruce, pine, birch, and aspen have been the species utilized most.

Treated Pine

2) Chemical Treated Pine (from Germany)

OSMO Treated Pine proudly offer the most environmental friendly products by changed our pressure impregnation to Wolmanit CX-8.

What is Wolmanit CX-8?
Wolmanit CX-8 is based on inorganic copper and boron compounds and other organic ingredients.

The difference to the ACQ treatment lies in the special copper (Bis-N-Cyclohexyldiazeniumdioxy-copper) it contains. These active agents have been tested extensively upon their toxicological and eco-toxicological properties. They are found to be:
     - NON-CARCINOGENIC
     - NON-MUTAGENIC
     - NON-TERATOGENIC
     - NON-SENSIBILISHING

As the Wolmanit CX-8 works very similar to the ACQ impregnation the durability and protection is exactly the same.

Modern wood preservation places high demands on research and technology, as wood preservatives today have to be both effective and environmentally compatible. With our range of Wolmanit CX-Products for vacuum pressure treatment, you can be safe in the knowledge that this is the case. These products have Copper-HDO as their basic active agent. They are liquid, chromium-free preservatives based on inorganic copper and boron compounds, which are used preventively to combat all kinds of fungus, including those causing soft rot, as well as insects and termites which attack wood. Once applied to the wood, they are difficult to leach, weather-resistant and compatible with plant life. Our Wolmanit CX-range preservatives are highly effective and fulfill all the requirements for occupational safety and the protection of health and the environment.

Wood and timber treated with Wolmanit-CX can be used on constructions with direct contact with earth or water, for garden and landscaping work, for playing apparatus, as timber piles, for garden fences, palisades, wood-block paving, carports and much more. The products in our Wolsit-KD range are concentrated, water-soluble emulsions with organic active agents. The Wolsit-KD range products also offer effective protection against fungi and insects which can destroy wood. Wood treated by the vacuum-pressure or double vacuum process is ideal for use as external shuttering, for balconies, pergolas and as constructional timber. Wood treated with Wolsit KD, is not suitable for use in the ground. Earth contact should be avoided.

Building components which must maintain dimensional accuracy, such as window frames, doors, constructional timbers and garden furniture can be provided with highly effective protection against fungus, insects, mould and sapstain using our solvent-containing preservative Wolvac LO in the double vacuum treatment process.

3) Natural Bangkirai / Douglas Fir / Cedar

Natural Bangkirai/Iroko
Because of their ingrediences, these hard woods have a natural protection against insects and fungus growth, even when used in ground contact. Low warping has to be tolerated, also light cracks and small holes that are caused by worms after the timber has been logged. During the drying process these insects are terminated. Marks caused by water or mould (black tone) during the transport cannot be avoided.
The natural ingredients might rinse out during the first weeks, so be careful with pale plastered walls etc.

Recommendation: Over the years the reddish brown turns into a silver grey. As a maintaining coat, we recommend OSMO Bangkirai Oil or Clear Oil Wood Finish (no pigments/no UV protection), if you want to protect the wood from greying use OSMO Wood Stain And Protector. Protect coloured deckings with a clear finish (OSMO Clear Oil Wood Finish or Bangkirai Oil) to increase wear resistance of the finish.

New: can also be supplied oil treated ex works

Natural Douglas Fir
The wood possesses a light-red tone and a high natural resistance to the effects of weathering, but it must not be used in direct contact with the soil. The sapwood is clearly visible (yellow tone) and it is only moderately weather-resistant. OSMO Douglas Fir wood contains a relatively low proportion of sapwood of 10-15%. To ensure your long term enjoyment of these elements, we urgently recommend treating them with OSMO Wood Stain and Preservative or ordering their treatment ex works. The wood possesses a good standing power, therefore it is low warping. It contains resin and ages to a silver grey tone. The mechanical characteristics of this wood are similar to those of pine. A typical feature of Douglas Fir is however, the large number of healthy knots, which cross-split when drying.

Natural Ceder
Natural Western Red Ceder, nearly free from knots, is used for panels, trellis, post caps, pergola Jardino, furniture and fences; with healthy knots used for deckings and construction wood. Particularly durable and low warping with exterior use, without chemical treatment because of its natural, oily preservative ingredients (thujaplicine). Finishes: over the years, the natural colour of the cedar will turn from a reddish golden brown into a pleasant silver grey. If you like this natural process, a treatment with OSMO Teak Oil or Clear Oil Wood Finish as protection against humidity and soiling would be sufficient. If you prefer to preserve the original shade, we recommend the following treatments: transparent: OSMO One Coat Only red cedar or larch, Wood Stain and Protector cedar. Opaque: OSMO Country Colour cedar/redwood (this finish is more reddish than the transparent ones)

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