The impact of inorganic compounds used for protection of wood on cellulose

Inorganic compounds were often used to protect wood from wood-decaying fungi and insects (e.g. compounds of arsenic, copper, chromium, zinc or boron) or as a retarder of combustion (e.g. ammonium salts, boron compounds). However, their use may accelerate degradation processes, which may show up as worsening of mechanical properties. The study deals with the impact of selected inorganic compounds (sodium chloride, copper sulphate pentahydrate, boric acid and ammonium sulphate) on cellulose. The samples of cellulose impregnated with the said compounds were subject to artificial aging. The cellulose was monitored for weight changes, changes in colour, values of aqueous extract pH, an average polymerization grade, mechanical properties, elementary composition and the content of bound inorganic compounds. The study was meant to identify stability of the used inorganic compounds in the conditions of artificial aging. The results imply that copper sulphate pentahydrate and ammonium sulphate accelerated degradation of cellulose the most. The effect of boric acid lead to larger deterioration of specimens namely in the conditions of dry aging. Sodium chloride had a negligible impact on the course of degradation. Used compounds continue to be at least partly retained in the cellulose specimens even after rinsing.