Current Problems in the Conservation of Wood in Thailand

Abstract

"In Thailand, wooden artefacts are composed principally of hardwood. Preferable hardwoods often contain natural wood preservatives. These toxic substances prevent or retard decay. Moreover, these artefacts have normally been treated with traditional wood finishes to reduce the rate of swelling and shrinking. The major causes of deterioration of wooden artefacts are tropical rainy climate, solar radiation, insects and microorganisms. A series of experiments to solve these problems is under way.