Objectif The proposed work has two purposes: to determine and characterize the main European sources of tannins (woods and barks); to explore their possible use as preservatives for wood or materials derived from wood. The research proposed has three purpos es: 1-to understand the mechanisms by which tannins protect lignocellulose f rom biodegradation; 2-to determine and characterise the main European source s or materialsplore their possible use was preservatives for wood These thre e objectives are motivated by the foll owing observations: 1-Heartwoods rich in tannins (e.g. oak or chestnut) are naturally durable. The mechanisms by w hich tannins protect lignocellulose ar e unknown even if several hypotheses h ave been proposed. A better understand ing of these mechanisms will allow to make a rational choice among the diffe rent sources of tannins and to modify these tannins in order to obtain an op timum fungicide activity. rich in tannins (10 to 30% of dry matt er). Oak and chestnut woods are curren tly extracted for their tannins, mainl y for leather production. Tannins from oak bark were used on a large scale u p to the beginning of this century. A renewed interest for natural organic c hemicals (and tannins) has emerged aft er oil shortages in the 1970's. Resour ces should thus be reexamined in the l ight of new potential uses of tannins. 3-One of these potential uses is relat ed to (ligno)cellulose preservation. T raditionnally, tannins heve been utili sed as preservatives for fish-nets, ro pes and fabrics. Very good protection of wood has been recently obtained in North-America, by impregnation with ta nnins and Cu (II) salts. Due to their physico-chemical properties (and parti cularly their astringency), tannins ca n be used not only for their fungicide properties but also to fix within the wood or materials derived from it, ot her fungicides or insecticides otherwi se easily leached. Wood adhesives base d on tannins have been used in a few c ountries, but have not been studied so far in relation to durability improve ment of the product. Different tannin extracts, alone or in combination with other fungicides or insecticides, wil l thus be tested for impregnation of w ood and manufacture of particleboard a nd plywood. The properties of the products, includ ing the resistance against rots, bluestains and termites for woods and agai nst rots for wood panels, will be eval uated. Such a research associating tannins an d wood preservation has not yet been d eveloped in Europe. The gathering of 8 laboratories covering fields such as tannin chemistry, polyphenol microbiol ogy, wood preservation and wood panels making, should lead to the developmen t of new durable and environmentally s afe products based on wood. Champ scientifique agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesforestry Programme(s) FP2-FOREST - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the fields of raw materials and recycling - Renewable raw materials: Forestry and wood products (including cork) -, 1990-1992 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Route de Thiverval 78850 Thiverval-Grignon France Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (5) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Centre Technique de l'Industrie du Bois Belgique Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 830,Chaussée d'Alsemberg 1180 Bruxelles Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Centre Technique du Bois et de l'Ameublement (CTBA) France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 10 avenue de Saint-Mandé 75012 Paris Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Rue Lhomond 24 75231 PARIS Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria Espagne Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse KM.7,Carretera de la Coruña-Apdo. 8.111 28040 Madrid Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Isoroy SA France Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 108 route d'Orbec 14102 Lisieux Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée