The atomic composition ratios of decayed wood by Basidiomycetes are mapped in a van Krevelen diagram. It is shown that the wood residue after decay is chemically reduced, rather than oxidized. A previously developed and verified theoretical model for thermal wood modification, relating atomic composition ratios to moisture sorption and fungal resistance properties has tentatively been applied to wood modification by Basidiomycetes-attack. It is argued that some of the reaction mechanisms, activated by heat during thermal modification, may also become activated in wood under fungal attack.

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