Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of preserving plywood, particle board and similar wood composite products made from wood pieces/particles and a binder used to adhere such wood pieces/particle together against rot and mould decay. According to the invention, the preservative of the wood material is a complexing agent which is capable of binding transition group metals and is admixed into the binder used in the manufacture of said wood composite products prior to the formation of said product. The invention also concerns a binder composition, which contains a polymer resin as its adhesive component and a complexing agent, particularly an aminotetracarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, by approx. 1-30 wt.-% as the preservative of the wood material, and a method of producing said binder composition. Tests performed on faced plywood indicated that a water-soluble, environmentally safe complexing agent offers a white rot resistance which is superior to conventional preservatives commonly used today.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a preservative for protecting wood against decay. According to the method wood is treated with a wood preservative capable of preventing the growth and spread of fungi, said preservative containing at least one complexing agent which binds at least a portion of those metals, typically iron and manganese, naturally occurring in wood that are essential to the growth of fungi. The complexing agents employed can be, e.g., ethylenediaminetetra-acetate, ethylene diamine-di-o-hydroxyphenylacetate a polyphospate or a siderophore produced by a microorganisms. The wood preservative used in the method is water-borne and specific to the decay fungi attacking wood.