Substituting commonly used toxic preservatives with wood modification treatments can make the wood material less prone to water and moisture uptake. This approach favours a more sustainable protection of wood against biodegradation. In this study, Scots pine sapwood was full-cell impregnated with an aqueous solution of urea (30%), dried at 40°C for 24h, and subsequently heat-treated at 150°C for 24h. By using accelerated fungal treatment conditions under laboratory conditions, the produced material showed great resistance against selected moulds and rots. Migration of urea into wood and grafting to wood polymers during subsequent heat treatment led to a bulked cell wall and improved resistance to swelling in water, even after cycling water treatments. The strength, but not elasticity, of the treated material was reduced by the treatment.

Download document (711 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document