Wood Deterioration and Preservation

At the end of this course, the students should be able to: discuss the basic requirements for wood deterioration either by fungi, insects including marine borers; explain how to differentiate how abiotic agents leads to wood degradation; and elucidate the treatment methods and chemicals for preventing wood deterioration and the environmental guidelines and restrictions that apply.

Deterioration of wood by fungi, insects, and marine borers. Types of decay organisms, decay, condition mechanisms, and consequences. Other agents of wood degradation; fire weathering, discolourations. Wood protection against deterioration; chemical used for wood preservation and techniques applied in wood preservation.