Book Description

A new method has been developed at the U.S. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory to evaluate the potential of various chemicals for preserving marine timbers. Matchsticks are treated with the test chemicals, then mounted in aquaria through which warm sea water flows, and finally exposed to marine borers of the species Limnoria tripunctata. Thirty-six preservative mixtures were evaluated by the method and many other mixtures had been evaluated by precursory procedures. Creosote and a number of copper and organotin compounds protected matchsticks from marine borers for a long time; but mercury compounds, organic dyes, organic insecticides, silver salts, and many other proposed preservatives failed to provide lasting protection. Of all the mixtures tested, those containing a tributyltin or triphenyltin compound at a level of one percent tin or those containing solubilized copper oxinate at a level of two percent copper gave the best protection. Nearly as effective were preservative mixtures containing creosote or other copper containing compounds. (Author).