Polyamidoamines (PAAs) functionalized with siloxanes as wood preservatives against fungi and insects

A novel treatment based on polyamidoam- ines (PAAs) for the preservation of wood against fungi and insects with a broad protection functionality, low effective concentration, and low environmental impact has been developed. PAAs were synthesized by nucleophile addition of ethanolamine (EtA) and/or3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to N,N?-methylene-bisacrylamide (MBA). The molar ratios in the tested for- mulation were: I) MBA:EtA=1:1; II) MBA:APTES=1:1; III)MBA:EtA:APTES=1:0.5:0.5. These formulations, char-acterized by ESI-MS, NMR, FT-IR, were tested against:(a) the wood decay fungi (Coniophora puteana, Corio- lus versicolor, and Poria placenta); (b) the subterranean termite Reticulitermes lucifugus, and the drywood termite Kalotermes flavicollis; (c) the woodborer Stegobium pani- ceum. Tests in combination with leaching showed that formulation II and III can be utilized as fungal wood pre- servatives for use classes 2-3 (EN 335:2013). In addition, all PAAs formulations were equally effective in preserving wood against the subterranean termite, and formulation II was most effective against drywood termite. On the other hand, the formulation I showed good efficacy against S. paniceum.