The objective of this work was to compare three different time intervals for diffusion treatments using borax in the preservation of sumaúma veneer. The treatment consisted of application by aspersion of 30 ml borax solution at 4% concentration. Retention of 0.500% of boric acid equivalent (BAE), was chosen, based on dry blade mass. Retention was evaluated in the diffusion times of 15, 150 and 270 minutes. Retention levels were verified by quantitative chemical analysis, through spectrophotometric measurement, with the following levels being obtained: 0.462; 0.457 and 0.440% BAE, respectively, for the treatments of 15, 150 and 270 minutes, which did not differ significantly by the Tukey test (p<0.05). The results indicate a good borax diffusion at 15 minutes, which was found to be an alternative treatment for timber preservation.
Borax; tropical timber; diffusion; Ceiba pentantra; Amazon
