Influence of Certain Preservatives on Pole Splitting

Tests conducted in Australia show that the amount and time of splitting of treated poles is dependent on the pole moisture content at the time of installation, the type of preservative treatment, and moisture flow characteristics of the timber. The material chosen for the test specimens was messmate stringybark poles. Each pole was cut into specimens of 10-foot length. Within each group, 50 percent of the top sections were salt-treated and the butt sections of the same poles were creosoted using a standard Lowry schedule and creosote to Australian Standard Spec. K55 and water-borne salt treatment using a full-cell cycle and Celcure -A as the preservative. During the 5-year life of the test, eight sets of measurements were made. Measurements were taken of the height from ground-line to the top and bottom of each split and of its average width and depth. The angular positions of each split were recorded. Splitting in the creosoted poles was considerably less than that in the salt-treated or untreated poles. The peak splitting was reached during the first summer season. The amount of splitting of all pole types rapidly diminished during the period 8 to 15 months. after installation. Splitting per unit area in small diameter poles was greater than in large diameter poles. Treatment of hardwood poles with water-borne salts does not accentuate splitting compared with similar untreated poles.

You must be logged in to download any documents. Please login (login accounts are free) or learn how to Become a Member