Termite Resistance of Wood Treated with Copper (II) Compounds Derived from Tri- and Dialkyulamine-Boric Acid Complexes

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the toxicity to termites and the leaching stability of copper compounds derived from tri-dioctylamine boric acid complexes for protecting wood against termite attack. Water-insoluble copper N-methyldioctylamine or copper N-dioctylamine and copper borate were precipitated in wood by the reaction of N-methyldioctylamine or N-dioctylamine boric acid with copper sulfate. Wood treated with these copper (II) compounds was resistant to subterranean termite attack in a modified nutritive supplement test. High or complete termite mortality occurred at 0.08 pcf (or 0.2 percent) for unleached, and 0.89 pcf (or 2 percent) for leached blocks. A notable advantage of the copper compounds over conventional wood preservatives was that termites readily acquired toxic doses by slight feeding on the treated wood; thus, unlike wood treated with conventional wood preservatives, these copper treatments might protect nearby untreated wood from termite attack.

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