Ultraestructural modifications in Pinus pinaster Ait. timber impregnated with copper-chrome-arsenical preservatives.

The purpose of this work was to study the wood anatomy of Pinus pinaster CCA-treated timber to evaluate the effects of the preservative method employed. The ultraestructural changes respect to the proof were descripted and the SEM-EDXA analysis was carried out to verify both, the preservative existence and its distribution in the wood. The preservative excess was observed as amorphousd electronically dense deposits, covering the inner surface of the tracheids and fiber-tracheids walls, over the pit membrane and in the corners among cells. The SEM-EDXA analysis showed the concentrations ratio [Cr] > [Cu] > [As] .

Key words: Pinus pinaster- CCA - preservation – cell wall- ultraestructure.