The increased interest to use oils as hydrophobic agents and the current debate about the further use of creosote emphasises the urgent need of better understanding of plant and other oils as wood protectors. The present study sheds light on the hydrophobic properties and distribution of various plant oils in the anatomical structure of Scots pine sapwood. Oil retentions from approximately 70 to 500 kg/m3 were achieved and tested. Analytical and microscopy techniques were used to reveal the distribution of oils in the wood cell wall and anatomical elements. Plant oils serve as mechanical barrier, diminishing the amount of free water in the wood structure but are not able to stop the progress of bound water. Modified plant oils showed significantly better hydrophobic properties after being associated with the main structural compounds. The anti swelling efficiency rises to 50-60%, thus being comparable with that of thermally modified wood. The new approach gives good prerequisites for modification of wood by means of plant oils.

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