Popular Science's Best of What's New: TimberSIL
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 11.13.05
Popular Science recently published their Best of What's New 2005 — a round-up of what they consider the year's most innovative products. Grand Winner under the "Home Tech" category is a wood treatment system called TimberSIL. TimberSIL is a non-toxic, non-corrosive, fire retardant, arsenic free wood treatment that is also free of heavy metals.
In 2002 the Environmental Protection Agency started phasing out the longtime standard additive, green chromated copper arsenate, for residential use because it leached arsenic into the ground. Its replacement, alkaline copper quaternary, was less toxic but had a bad habit of eating away at metal fasteners, like nails. The TimberSIL treatment employs sodium silicate, a mixture of sand and soda ash used since the 1800s in detergents and as an egg preservative. Lumber soaks in it under pressure, then bakes until an insoluble matrix of amorphous glass hardens throughout the wood. It makes the wood highly resistant to rain, bugs, and general wear. It costs $4.50 per 8-foot 2x4.
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what does a traditional 2X4 cost? is this more or less expensive?
Wouldn't sanding and cutting this timber produce harmful dust like fibreglass seen as 'an insoluble matrix of amorphous glass hardens throughout the wood'?
I'm sure it depends on where you live. Pressure treated 2x4's cost 3.40 each where I live. So this is a more expensive alternative currently. Of course, when your only choice because of the EPA regulations I imagine that you'll see a reduction in price maybe. I don't know about the cost of the other technique for pressure treating that will be allowed.
The price will be controlled by the distributors and retailers (lumber yards, mostly, in 2006), but the price will be competitive with other types of treated wood (considerablly lower than the better composites).
Sawdust from TimberSIL is no more abrasive than regular sawdust. No resemblance to fiberglass properties. Turning it back and forth in direct sunlight will reflect tiny "twinkles," but otherwise it cuts, sands and feels like a regular stick.
More on the safety issue.
TimberSIL's MSDS (material safety data sheet) can be downloaded at http://www.timbersil.com/product-research.html
Here is the related section:
HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION
Emergency Overview: Clear amorphous solid matrix; inert and non-irritating, present throughout wood. (Although this information is presented for TimberSil™ converted glass matrix, the primary material present in an emergency situation is wood; standard precautions related to wood should also be followed.)
Eye contact: If present as dust, wear safety glasses, otherwise N/A.
Skin contact: Non-irritant
Inhalation: A suitable respiratory protective device is recommended for high levels of dust, if present, see
Section 8, otherwise N/A.
Ingestion: N/A.
Chronic hazards: No known chronic hazards.
Physical hazards: No known physical hazards.
NFPA and HMIS ratings (scale 0-4): Health = 1; Fire = 0, Reactivity = 0
4. FIRST AID MEASURES: Product is infused into wood, and is innocuous. Follow precautions for wood dust, if present.
After Inhalation: If present as dust and quantities inhaled in excess of section 8, supply fresh air; provide medical attention in case of complaints. Otherwise, N/A.
After Eye: If present as dust, flush eyes with plenty of water to remove any solid particles. Otherwise, N/A.
After Skin: If present as dust, if desired, brush off or wash off skin. Otherwise, N/A.
After Ingestion: N/A