Effect of post-treatment steaming on the bending properties of southern pine treated with copper naphthenate

The effect of steaming after treatment was evaluated for southern pine treated with a waterborne copper naphthenate formulation. Little practical effect on the mechanical properties was noted. Steaming for 2 hours had a greater effect than a 30-minutes steam period. No difference in modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture, work to proportional limit, work to maximum load, or fiber stress at proportional limit between samples steamed following treatment and those only treated was shown. Differences between untreated and treated samples were ascribed to treatment rather than steaming. This treatment effect is common with waterborne preservative treatments. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]