%0 Journal Article %A Antwi-Boasiako, Charles %A Boadu, Kwadwo Boakye %D 2013 %I Begell House %K dimensional stability, Maneb/Lambda mixture, moisture content, organic preservative, porous medium, shrinkage, volumetric swelling %N 2 %P 137-145 %R 10.1615/SpecialTopicsRevPorousMedia.v4.i2.30 %T SWELLING CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC PRESERVATIVE-TREATED POROUS TROPICAL UTILITY HARDWOOD [CEIBA PENTANDRA (L.) GAERTN.] %U https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/3d21681c18f5b5e7,365e35326aa6167d,2d32f8b449fd4c8d.html %V 4 %X Overexploitation of endangered timbers necessitates utilization of chemically treated nondurable species. Ceiba pentandra is porous, dimensionally stable in dry service conditions, and has regular export of treated products. Swelling characteristics of treated woods are hardly studied. This work provides a scientific bridge to this gap. Influence of Maneb/Lambda mixture and Erythrophleum suaveolens bark extract on the swelling of C. pentandra was investigated by water immersion for 24 h. Directional swelling was greatest tangentially (1.4−2.5 times greater than radial swelling) and least along longitudinal directions (90−360 times less than tangential surfaces) depending on solvent type. Untreated stakes soaked in the three solvents swelled more than treated stakes in water. Tangential swelling was greater for untreated stakes in E. suaveolens (9.20 ± 0.02%) and Maneb/Lambda (9.32 ± 0.02%) than in water (8.10 ± 0.01%); the contrary occurred for longitudinal and radial swellings. Maneb/Lambda-treated stakes swelled more tangentially in water (7.36 ± 0.13%) but less at radial directions (2.89 ± 0.01%) than those treated with E. suaveolens (7.10 ± 0.00% and 3.28 ± 0.02%, respectively). Volumetric swelling was greater for untreated stakes in all solvents (12.66 ± 0.60% in water/14.74 ± 0.66% in Maneb/Lambda) than for Maneb/Lambda- and E. suaveolens-treated stakes in water (10.51 ± 0.14% and 10.62 ± 0.02% respectively). Thus, preservative-chemicals would protect nondurable timbers against biodeterioration with the added advantage of reducing moisture-absorption capacity of engineered products in service conditions. %8 2013-04-15