Wood & Plastics

Question 1

Creosote

Answer 1

• A toxic, oil-based (can’t be painted), wood preservative that has largely been phased out of construction.

Question 2

Pentachlorophenol

Answer 2

Oily (can’t be painted) wood preservative. Still pretty widely used, for example on telephone poles

Question 3

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA)

Answer 3

• Used to be the most common treated wood, until phased out due to extreme toxicity.
• The Arsenate is literally Arsenic!
• Don’t burn this wood!
• Remove splinters immediately.
• Wear dust mask and wash everything after working with it.

Question 4

Alkaline Copper Quarternary (ACQ)

Copper Boron Azole (CBA)

Answer 4

• Less toxic than CCA
• Due to copper content, can’t be used with steel or aluminum connections (galvanic action once water is introduced) use stainless steel, zinc galvenized steel, or copper alloy.
• Approved for above-ground, ground contact, or freshwater submersion!

Question 5

Micronized Copper

Answer 5

• Powder copper solution rubbed on to wood (not liquid applied) makes the wood less corrosive to metals.
• Can be painted
• Below ground applications!

Question 6

Carbon Based PTI

Answer 6

• New!
• Even less corrosive to metal fasteners
• Can be painted
• Below ground applications!

Question 7

Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (DOT)

Sodium Borate (SBX)

Answer 7

• Nontoxic
• Above Ground Only
• Good for termites

Question 8

How to remember all the treated wood types?

Answer 8

• 2 Oil-based (have single-word names)
  
  • Creosote
  • Pentachlorophenol
• 3 Copper, 1 Copper Powder
  
  • CCA (phased out for toxicity)
  • ACQ
  • CBA
  • Micronized Copper
• New one - Carbon Based PTI
• Nontoxic above ground only (crazy names)
  
  • DOT
  • SBX