Copper naphthenate treatment for wood crossties and timbers

J Brient, Nisus Corporation IRG/WP 14-30647

2014

Copper Naphthenate • CuN is a “heavy duty” wood

preservative – Crossties and bridge timbers – Utility poles – Posts, piles, cross arms, etc.

• Copper compounds

– Broadly effective against decay fungi and wood-destroying insects

– Relatively easy to formulate – Easy to assay and detect for

penetration in wood

Short-line Treated by Cahaba

CuN History • First suggested as a wood preservative in Europe in 1889. • Creosote extender during World War II. • Listed in AWPA Standards specifically for crossties and

switchties & other treated wood commodities. • Listed in American Railway Engineering and

Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) guidelines – Class 1 railroads in the USA have incorporated CuN into their

specifications for treated wood crossties and timbers. • Field treatment of poles and ties • “Non-restricted” wood preservative available

for consumer use in the USA due to its low hazardous characteristics.

Clean to Work With

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Creosote Bleeding

(Courtesy Wheeler Lumber)

Treated Wood Properties Not Conductive

Not corrosive (mpy)

7 (courtesy Dr. Amburgey MSU)

CuN Efficacy • Ties @ 13 years in track

– No significant difference in performance

– NS RR - major commitment to CuN

• TVA hardwood posts – Cold soak (non-PT) – 0.03 pcf Cu

0

2

4

6

8

10

AD Creosote AD CuNap Borates +CuNap

Borates only Borates +Creosote

BoultonizedCuNap

BoultonizedCreosote*

Ave

rag

e R

atin

g (1

0 =

Exc

elle

nt)

Wood Species Untreated, years CuN-treated, years

Southern Pine 1.9 16-17

Black Oak 2.8 15-16

Yellow Poplar 2.8 17+

Blackgum 3.4 14-15

Red Maple 4.0 11-14

Chestnut Oak 4.8 18+

White Oak 11 14+

Based on Decades of Field Tests:

• 0.06 pcf Cu = 10 pcf Creosote

• 0.04 pcf Cu = 8 pcf Creosote

• 0.03 pcf Cu = 6 pcf Creosote

9

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CuNap TIES GOING IN CuNap TIES GOING IN

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U1-13 USE CATEGORY SYSTEM: USER SPECIFICATION FOR TREATED WOOD © 2013

3.0 PRESERVATIVE RETENTION SPECIFICATIONS (Crossties and Switchties) – UC4A, UC4B, UC4C

Retentions in English (pcf) units Use Category System

(UC4A, UC4B and

UC4C)

Retention Specification by Gauge (pcf).

Creosote Cu Naphthenate1

SBX Pre- Treatment2

Species CR CR-S,

CR-PS CuN SBX3

Oak and Hickory 7.0 or Refusal

7.0 or Refusal

0.055 or Refusal 0.17

Mixed Hardwoods 7.0 7.0 0.060 0.17 Southern and

Ponderosa Pine 8.0

8.0

0.060 0.17

Coastal Douglas-fir, Western Hemlock,

Western Larch

8.0 or Refusal 8.0

0.060 #

Intermountain Douglas-fir

Refusal

Refusal # #

Jack, Red & Lodgepole Pine

6.0

7.0 # #

Footnotes: 1 May also be determined by assay. 2 SBX pre-treated ties shall be secondarily treated with CR, CR-S, CR-PS, or CuN (for which data is submitted) for this commodity at the retention shown above. 3 The only acceptable formulation of SBX for pre-treatment of this commodity is sodium octaborate (DOT) since all supporting data is based on DOT at 0.25 pcf (4.0 kg/m3) which is equivalent to 0.17 pcf (2.7 kg/m3) B2O3 (SBX). # = Either no proposal for standardization and/or data demonstrating efficacy of a preservative/species combination has been submitted to

AWPA; or the use of the preservative/species combination has been proven ineffective.

AREMA COMMITTEE 30 Ties

Copper Naphthenate - Ballot Approved Guidelines & Recommendations Part 3 Solid Sawn Timber Ties, Section 3.6 Wood Preserving, 3.6.4.3 Oil-Borne Preservatives Copper Naphthenate (CuN) is an EPA-registered. Non-restricted use pesticide used for protection of wood ties as a primary protective treatment against the attack of the wood by decay organisms or termites. The solvent used with CuN is No. 2 fuel oil but other carriers meeting American Wood Protection Association (AWPA0Standards HAS can be used.

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CuN Regulatory Status

• 2007 RED: CuN eligible for re-registration • Nisus supporting EPA data call-in • EU BPR Creosote to be Replaced by 2018: CuN

best candidate

Cu/CuNap Pentachlorophenol Creosote Arsenic

Use Classification General Restricted Restricted Restricted

Toxicity Category III I I I

RCRA Listed Waste Not Listed F021, F027, F028,F032,K001

F034, K001, K035, U051

F035, P011

CERCLA RQ, lbs None 10 1 1

OSHA carcinogen No Yes Yes Yes

TCLP limits, mg/L None 100 None 5

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Solutions of QNAP8 Copper Naphthenate Concentrate can be applied to wooden and cellulose utility and construction products (including lumber, end cuts, timber, rail ties, posts, poles, freeway fencing, siding, piers, docks, boxes, roofs, shakes, shingles, porches, steps, fences, rails and beverage cases). QNAP8 Copper Naphthenate Concentrate treated wood is suitable for ornamental or planting landscape timbers ties, wooden seedling trays, outdoor décor, flower boxes and window boxes. The treated wood can be burned or re-purposed after primary service as a railroad tie or utility pole for use in residential landscaping or as fence posts.

Disposal & Environmental Impact

• CuN combustion products similar to other oil-borne wood preservatives. – Oxidized to CO2, H2O, and CuO/Cu2O – Several facilities in the USA now

permitted to burn CuN-treated wood.

• Potential for Cu recovery & recycle • US EPA petition as Non-Hazardous

Secondary Materials, suitable as boiler fuels.

• Life cycle analyses: Treated wood has lower environmental impact than steel, concrete, and plastic composites.

Copper Naphthenate Boultonized Ties at Mellott’s

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Pine Bridge Treatment with Copper Naphthenate at Boatright

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Dry to touch and completely clean, equivalent loading and performance to 10 pcf of creosote, almost complete penetration, Effective simple QC at any time during tie life

Pine QNAP Bridge Tie Installation

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Conclusions CuN - proven safe and effective in use CuN-treated crossties - physical and environmental

advantages for railroad users. Wood ties, timbers, poles and posts …

– made from a renewable natural material, – obtained from a sustainably managed source, – treated with non-restricted use preservatives like CuN,

… the choice for improved performance, worker safety and sustainability.

Questions?

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(Courtesy Wheeler Lumber)