What term describes a chemical added to a wood preservative to improve its performance?

• A. Emulsifier
• B. Adjuvant
• C. Catalyst
• D. Buffer

Answer: (B)

Adjuvant is the term for a chemical added to a wood preservative to boost its performance. These additives help the preservative wet the wood better, spread and adhere more effectively, and sometimes penetrate into the wood or stabilize the formulation. Emulsifier is a specific type of adjuvant that helps mix immiscible liquids, but the general idea of a performance-enhancing additive is captured by adjuvant. Catalysts speed up chemical reactions and aren’t typically described as additives that improve field performance of a wood preservative, and buffers mainly maintain pH rather than enhance performance.