An important point in impregnation of timber with preservatives is to get adequate penetration coupled with appropriate absorptions. This can be achieved by a number of processes. Among these processes impregnating inorganic & toxic compounds in the timber to make the wood material poisonous to fungus and insects is the most common practice.
Mixtures of various salts which in the presence of wood react and form insoluble complex salts and thus get permanently fixed in the wood treated with them are commonly used. The treated wood is very clean and can be painted, polished or waxed. These are :
- Copper-Chrome-Arsenic (CCA)
- Copper-Chrome-Boric (CCB)
- Acid Copper-Chrome (ACC)