EFFECT OF MICRONIZED COPPER AZOLE (MCA) ON FUNGAL AND DECAY RESISTANCE OF CANADIAN TIMBER SPECIES

Abstract

The efficacy of the wood preservative micronized copper azole (MCA) was evaluated using two fungal studies: a bioassay plate study and a soil/block study. Five fungal species and six Canadian wood species were used for the experiments. The bioassay study tested all fungal species against ten different treatments. The soil/block study examined both fungal and wood species at nine different treatments. The bioassay revealed MCA concentrations of 1.5% and 2.0% were most effective at inhibiting fungi growth on petri plates. While the MicroShades natural brown (MSNB) additive dye yielded no significant effect on preservative performance. The soil/block study found that Canadian wood species treated with MCA were able to perform equally, and in some cases better, than the industry standard chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Results were concentration-specific and fungi-dependant for many wood species. Overall, MCA-treated Canadian wood species are effective in preventing mass loss against wood-rot fungi.