WOOD PRESERVATION IN BRASIL: HISTORICAL, CURRENT SCENARIO AND TRENDS

O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar uma revis\ue3o de literatura sobre o setor de preserva\ue7\ue3o de madeiras no Brasil, desde seu in\uedcio at\ue9 o ano de 2011. O Brasil \ue9 rico em recursos naturais e a madeira sempre ocorreu de forma abundante. Com o crescimento industrial, houve a necessidade de utilizar madeiras de baixa durabilidade natural, mas dependentes de um tratamento preservativo. O tratamento de madeiras iniciou-se no final do s\ue9culo XIX, para atendimento da demanda de dormentes para as ferrovias. Somente na d\ue9cada de 1960, o setor de preserva\ue7\ue3o de madeiras ganhou impulso com aumento significativo das pesquisas cient\uedficas, normaliza\ue7\ue3o t\ue9cnica e unidades industriais de preserva\ue7\ue3o de madeira. A partir da\ued, poucos avan\ue7os foram observados. No ano de 2011, as usinas de preserva\ue7\ue3o utilizam basicamente madeiras dos g\ueaneros calyptus e Pinus , realizando, principalmente, o tratamento preservativo em usinas sob press\ue3o. Em pequena escala, utiliza-se o m\ue9todo de substitui\ue7\ue3o de seiva. Os principais preservativos utilizados s\ue3o o arseniato de cobre cromatado (CCA) e o borato de cobre cromatado (CCB); o creosoto tamb\ue9m \ue9 utilizado, em reduzida escala. A produ\ue7\ue3o de madeira tratada concentra-se, essencialmente, na produ\ue7\ue3o de moir\uf5es de cerca, postes e dormentes. Como tend\ueancia, o setor dever\ue1 alcan\ue7ar novos mercados, como o de constru\ue7\ue3o civil, cruzetas e embalagens, bem como intensificar o consumo dos produtos tradicionais. A despeito de in\ufameras pesquisas sobre v\ue1rios produtos, o CCA dever\ue1 se manter no mercado por v\ue1rios anos, pela inexist\ueancia de produtos alternativos que apresentem a mesma efic\ue1cia, bem como \ue0 inexist\ueancia de provas que o produto apresente efeitos nocivos \ue0 sa\ufade humana e ao meio ambiente.The objective of this paper was to show a comprehensive literature review about wood preservation in Brazil, since the earliest years until 2011. Brazil is rich in natural resources and wood has always occurred in abundance. With the industrial growing, there was the necessity of using wood with low natural durability but with chemical preservative treatment. Wood chemical treatment began in late XIX century, mainly to attend the big demand of sleepers to railroads. Only during the 60\u2019s, wood preservation gained market with the increase of scientific researches, elaboration of technical standards and building industrial plants for wood preservation. From this point on, few advances have been reached. In 2011, Eucalyptus and Pinus , were the main species used in wood preservation plants that adopts the vacuum-pressure process. In small production scale, diffusion process is adopted. Copper chromium arsenate (CCA) and Copper chromium borate (CCB) are the most preservatives utilised with some creosote utilisation. The treated wood production is concentrated in fence posts, poles and sleepers. As a trend, the wood preservation must reach new markets, such as building constructions, wood packages and crossarms, and also to intensify the traditional uses. Although there are a lot of researches about chemicals for wood preservation, CCA must keep by the years, once alternative products do not present the same efficacy or clear effects about human health and environment