Timber preservation

Shell Chemicals is applying its solvents expertise to offer a more sustainable technique for timber preservation to countries that depend on timber as a material for construction.

Timber, such as pine and eucalyptus, is already widely used as building material for homes and other structures in many countries. However, for long-term durability, timber needs to be protected from attack by insects, fungi and rotting. Shell Chemicals companies are working with the construction industry to provide hydrocarbon solvents that speed up and simplify timber preservation. Our scientists aim to reduce preservation costs and encourage the use of renewable softwoods.

In Australia, New Zealand and other countries with growing markets for construction timber, Shell Chemicals companies have set up relationships with timber preservation chemicals companies. As a result, some standard products from the Shell Chemicals range of hydrocarbon solvents are being used as the carrier for the active preservative ingredients manufactured and marketed by these companies. This has led to the emergence of a more effective timber treatment process based on light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP).

Timber is impregnated in special tanks with a solution of the active preservation agents in the Shell hydrocarbon solvents. Shell provides guidance and supplies the solvents, which are typically white spirit or light kerosene fractions. As well as preventing the leaching of active ingredients, LOSP reduces the chances of timber distortion during application that can lead to structural defects.

Spirit of cooperation

Shell staff cooperate at all stages of the LOSP technology development. They supply stable, non-corrosive solvents with the right solvency and penetration to deliver the active preservatives effectively throughout the entire timber structure. Furthermore, the LOSP process gives time and cost savings by eliminating the post-drying step associated with water-based treatments.

We have developed relationships with industry partners to provide guidelines on the safe and responsible use of preservatives and hydrocarbon solvents. We are also investigating ways to recycle more of the solvent or harness the energy potential somewhere else in the process. In some countries, a switch to completely aromatic-free or purely paraffin-based solvent systems is also being considered.

Using the LOSP process on renewable softwood timbers, like Pinus Radiata, which are grown on managed plantations, could potentially reduce the use of hardwood timber from old growth forests.