Borate treatment of CLT Panels Using Vacuum: A Proof of Concept

Abstract

Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an increasingly popular wood-based alternative for large building applications. Preservatives are often applied to wood products to protect them from decay and extend their service life. However, CLT panels are typically not treated due in part to a perceived lack of efficient and effective methods for treating large panels and a lack of information on what impact treatment processes may have on the panels’ mechanical properties. We propose that treating CLT panels with borate solution, applied under vacuum in flexible bags, could provide a practical and effective option for providing preservative protection for interior applications. Samples were cut from commercially produced CLT panels and treated with borate solution using vacuum. The samples were then evaluated for preservative retention, swelling and degradation of mechanical properties. Initial treatments resulted in a wide range of preservative retentions and property impacts among the products tested. In subsequent ‘optimizations’, the treatment parameters were adjusted to provide consistent and sufficient retention amongst the products. The vacuum treatment method effectively penetrated cracks in the lumber and the bond lines. Swelling and impacts on mechanical properties were minimal in the optimized samples. In addition to these samples that were treated in a rigid pressure vessel, a larger sample was successfully treated in a flexible plastic bag. Data from this study supports the concept that vacuum treatment of CLT panels with borate can provide sufficient levels of preservative retention, can be adjusted to the material being treated and has minimal impacts on mechanical properties.