Oxalic Acid info

Most deck cleaners are hydroxide based. The pH levels for Hydroxides read between 12.5 and 14. Most acids read between 1.5 to 3 pH. When bases and acids come together, they cancel each other out(neutralize). Wood has no pH, it's what you use on the wood.
Oxalic acid prevents the wood from "whiting" and brings it back to it's natural color.
Hope this is helpful info.

Ron/Xterior
 

Jim Bilyeu

New Member
Ron,
In regards to your statment that "wood has no pH" This statment is totaly wrong. Everything on god's earth has a pH.

"The Ph of wood is a measure of the concentration of H-ions ( or OH-ions, respectively ) in solutions, and is used for the determination of their acidic, neutral or alkaline behaviour. The pH value of wood, or more exactly of the aqueous solution within humid wood, is highly important for various ranges of it's utilization. metals in contact with wood may corrode, the adhesive power of glues and the fixation of wood protectives may be influenced, and attention to the pH of wood is also called for in conection with pulping, fiber-and particleboard production, and plastification. ( Sandermann, Rothkamm 1959; Kehr, Shilling 1965; and Labsky 1974)

As you can see, there has been alot of studies and papers written on the subject of pH factors of wood. The lowest pH I have found in wood comes from the Pierocarpus Soyauxii species, 3.7. The highest pH i have found comes from the Treminalia Superba species, 8.2.

If you would like further documentation on this, let me know and I would be happy to send it to you.

Jim Bilyeu
Exterior Woodcare

<FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Jim Bilyeu on May 27, 2000 ]</font>
 
Sorry Jim,
You're exactly right. I retract my statement. Everything has a pH.
The point I was trying to make was the chemicals that one uses to clean wood is high on the pH scale. To prevent a whiting situation, you can neutralize the product. I would very much like you to forward the information to me. Sounds like it will be very informative.
Ron Strickland
Xterior Sales and Service
512 Village Court
Garner, NC. 27529

<FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">[This message has been edited by Ron Strickland/Xtrerior S on June 03, 2000 ]</font>
 

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