Opinion ID: 3049595
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: SEM Testing

Text: 4 Viance’s first step was to purchase commercially available MCQ-treated wood and send it to a lab to be analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Viance theorized that, unlike the soluble copper ions found in ACQ, the suspended micronized copper particles found in MCQ might not penetrate the wood in sufficient quantities to provide the necessary protection against microorganisms that produce soft rot. It sought to verify this concern through SEM testing. According to Viance, the SEM results verified its doubts because the studies showed insufficient penetration of copper into the cell walls and a concentration of copper in the cell walls of MCQ-treated wood that was significantly lower than ACQ-treated wood. Dr. Kevin Archer of Viance presented the findings at the 2007 International Research Group on Wood Protection conference. In his presentation, Dr. Archer concluded that the copper concentration in the cell walls of MCQ-treated wood was significantly lower than in wood treated with ACQ but that the long term performance implications in ground contact were unknown. Dr. Archer did not produce a paper describing the methods and results of the SEM tests in conjunction with his presentation.