Preservative supplier expands its metal-free offerings

(JINCEthe treated wood industry \)voluntarily agreed to discontinue the use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) for residential applications at the end of 2003, chemical producers have sought effective alternatives to protect wood against weathering, biodegradation and termites.

In 2OO7, Viance LLC released Ecolife Stabilized Weather-Resistant Wood, which is wood treated with a stabilizing polymer to enhance the long-term aesthetic appearance of treated wood in service. With the approval of the patented new EcoVance preservative by the Environmental Protection Agency for use as a wood preservative for above-ground and ground-contact applications (EPA Reg. No.101-307). Viance is incorporating it as the current nonmetallic system in its Ecolife II product for above-ground applications.

Ecolife II currently is under review with the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES).

EcoVance was developed to inhibit the growth of decay fungi and surface mold, enabling wood to retain its strength and appearance longer with less maintenance. EcoVance is biodegradable and does not accumulate in soil, is less corrosive to metal fasteners and connectors. When tested using standard industry procedures, it also leaches less.

Combined with the insecticide Imidacloprid and a wood-stabilizing polymer, which minimizes water absorption and therefore prevents cycles of shrinking and swelling, Ecolife not only protects against decay and termites, it also mitigates weathering processes that contribute to warping, cracking and splitting.

The active component of the EcoVance preservative system is 4,5dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3one (DCOIT), which earned Viance's joint venture partner, Rohm & Haas, the first Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award in the "Designing Greener Chemicals Award" category in 1996. Chemical Specialties Inc. (CSI), Viance's other joint venture partner, also is a Green Chemistry award recipient.

Rohm & Haas' development of the biocide DCOIT was the result of research to create a marine antifoulant that is free of toxic tin-based compounds. In addition to marine anti-foulant paints, DCOIT was applied to Rohm & Haas' architectural coatings and plastics compounds product lines. Recognizing the value of this biocide in wood preservation, Rohm & Haas sought a channel into the wood-treatment market and entered into a joint partnership with CSI to launch Viance LLC in January 2001.

The partnership of Rohm & Haas' biocides technology and CSI's experi( Please turn to page 48)