Effect of tallow impregnation on moisture behavior and decay resistance of various wood species

Beef tallow is a by-product of rendering of fats from meat production. While tallow can be used for avariety of applications including biodiesel production, it might also be useful for enhancing the waterresistance of wood to improve durability. The effects of differing retentions of tallow on woodperformance were evaluated in scots pine, beech and poplar. Tallow slowed but did notcompletely limit water uptake nor did it completely inhibit swelling. Fourier transform infraredspectroscopic analysis indicated that tallow did not appreciably alter the wood chemistry and TGAanalysis suggested that it had only minor thermal effects. Fungal exposures suggested that tallowtreatment improved decay resistance slightly but would not function as a stand-alone woodprotectant. The results suggest that tallow might be a useful additive for bulking the wood toenhance water repellency of an existing preservative.