Durability of model degraded wood treated with organosilicon compounds against fungal decay

Conservation agents used to preserve heavily degraded wooden artefacts typically act as consolidants that restore the structural integrity of an object. However, treatments that can provide both dimensional stability and improved resistance to wood-decaying organisms are desirable because even degraded wood is still susceptible to further biodegradation. Some organosilicon compounds proved effective at stabilising waterlogged wood dimensions and could serve as potential multi-purpose conservation agents. To assess whether these chemicals can also impart decay and resistance to filamentous fungi, degraded model Scots pine wood was impregnated with three different organosilicon compounds: Methyltrimethoxysilane – MTMS, (3-Mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane – MPTMS, and Bis(diethylamino)-3-propoxypropanol)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane – DEAPTMDS), and moisture properties and durability of the treated wood were measured. All three organosilicons reduced treated pine hygroscopicity and provided various degrees of protection against brown-rot and white-rot fungi. However, only DEAPTMDS completely inhibited the growth of filamentous fungi after four weeks of incubation. The results show that tested organosilicons are suitable multi-purpose conservation agents for degraded wooden objects such as waterlogged archaeological wood because they can both consolidate and protect degraded wood from further biodeterioration.