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Extraction of fungal colorants for their use in coloured coatings for wood
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40938
Microorganisms are highly interesting for the production of useful metabolites. Such metabolites are e.g. colorants, that can easily be produced on industrial scale and low material costs. To date some microbial produced colorants are used in textile- and food industry because of their low toxicity and sustainability compared to synthetically produced colorants. However, little is known about the ...
K Kusstatscher, N Pfabigan, M Senoner, L Orlowsky, A Steitz, B Forsthuber, S Niedermayer, R Gründlinger


Optimized composition of alkyd emulsion with nanoparticles of iron oxide for enhancing protection of thermally modified wood
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40940
Thermal treatment is acknowledged as an environmentally friendly method to improve durability of wood and some of its properties, such as biological resistance, dimensional stability, reduced hygroscopy. Despite these improvements, when used outdoors, also thermally treated wood is subjected to the action of environmental factors, like solar radiation, moisture, precipitations, temperature, etc., ...
E Sansonetti, D Cīrule, I Andersone, B Andersons, E Kuka


Influence of weathering on the mechanical properties and performance of exterior wood coatings
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40951
Three commercial coatings were exposed to artificial (EN 927-6) and natural weathering (EN 927-3) on wood samples. Cracking was visually assessed as well as Persoz hardness. Free films of the same coatings were also exposed to the same weathering tests before their tensile properties were measured. Results show that artificial and natural weathering modified the overall mechanical properties of wo...
L Podgorski, J-D Lanvin


Durability of fast- and slow-grown Douglas fir in above ground exposures in Australia
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11009
Natural durability is a key property for untreated timber used outdoors and exposed to the weather. The natural durability of fast- and slow-grown Douglas fir heartwood was compared in an above-ground L-joint field test near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The L-joint test provides conditions that are favourable to decay. Fast-grown (regrowth) Douglas fir had ≤ 10 growth rings per 50 mm, while ...
L P Francis


Natural durability of tropical plantation woods case in teak
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11011
Teak (T. grandis) is one of the most popular tropical timber species when it comes to the natural durability. High value of teak timber is attracting the attention to expand fast growing teak plantations, and the natural durability of plantation teak wood has been examined in various provenances of tropics. Natural durability of plantation and natural teak wood using three disks was examined throu...
K Yamamoto


Natural durability of 9 tropical species suitable for round wood timber building: fungi and termites laboratory screening tests
2023 - IRG/WP 23-11013
In numerous tropical forest species, wood properties are poorly described and wood is under-valorized. Especially very few is known about small diameter trees although they may be used, directly as round wood, in construction timber building. A selection of abundant species was done and characterization tests were performed to assess their usability as building material. The aim of this work was t...
M Leroy, K Candelier, J Damay, J Bossu, R Lehnebach, M-F Thevenon, J Beauchene, B Clair


Influence of weathering of wood surfaces before and after treatment with iron(II) sulphate
2023 - IRG/WP 23-30786
Outdoor wood is exposed to various factors that cause the wood to grey or age. The ageing processes can vary greatly depending on the exposure. Parts of the wood that are not exposed to external factors, e.g. under the eaves, are less exposed and the ageing process is therefore slower. This can be accelerated by solutions based on iron ions. In this way, the wood greys quickly and evenly. However,...
B Lesar, M Humar, F Osvald


The impact of pre-drying on treatment level variations of esterified solid wood analysed by X-ray densitometry
2023 - IRG/WP 23-40977
Wood modification requires homogenous treatment levels within the wood matrix to prevent insufficiently treated areas being subject to biodeterioration. Esterification of wood by citric acid and sorbitol can show differences in density caused by uneven chemical distribution during the curing phase and can be detected by x-ray densitometry. This study used density profiling to investigate the influ...
A Treu, S O Amiandamhem, E Larnoy


Australian timber durability research needs
2023 - IRG/WP 23-50385
Australia was once a world leader in timber durability research, but prolonged disinvestment resulted in a gradual decline in capacity. Forest and Wood Products Australia recognized this problem and supported the development of the Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life to help reverse this decline and begin to educate the next generation of Australian researchers. The Centre is a collabor...
J J Morrell


On the use of miniaturized wood specimens in fungal decay experiments – mini-blocks versus EN 113 test specimens
2024 - IRG/WP 24-11044
Preliminary evaluation and classification of wood durability against decay fungi using laboratory monoculture experiments has been a longstanding practice because these tests offer quicker results than field tests. Various methods, including miniaturized specimen formats and different incubation periods, have been explored to expedite decay processes and assess wood preservation efficacy. The 'min...
C Brischke, G Alfredsen


Bio-durability and weathering performances of cardanol-treated wood
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30809
Cardanol is an excellent insecticide, fungicide, and termiticide derived from thermally treated cashew nutshell liquid (CNSL) and has been extensively explored in the chemical industry and for medicinal uses. However, its potential for wood protection remains unexplored. This study aims to understand the bio-durability and weathering properties of cardanol-treated wood. The southern pine and yello...
L Liang, McDonald, A G, L Cai


A novel treatment for increasing UV stabuility of wood based on citric acid and urea
2024 - IRG/WP 24-30811
Wood, a fundamental material in the Built Environment, faces challenges related to durability and weathering, notably UV degradation leading to colour changes. This study explored a novel treatment method utilising citric acid and urea to enhance the UV stability of wood. The reaction between these compounds forms fluorescent species and insoluble nanoparticles upon thermal treatment. Two treatmen...
S Jué, A Scharf, C-F Lin, R Moutou Pitti, D Sandberg, D Jones


Evaluation of the water exclusion ability and inherent bioactivity of heartwood against decay in Japanese and European wood species via above-ground exposure and water absorption tests
2024 - IRG/WP 24-40998
The natural durability of wood has been thought to mainly depend on bioactive extractives and the water exclusion ability. To clarify the contribution of each factor to wood durability, above-ground exposure tests were conducted on Japanese and European wood species. A double-layer test was carried out using heartwood specimens of four wood species, i.e., Japanese cedar, Japanese cypress, Scots pi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


Leaching and chemical redistribution of CCA components in refractory heartwood of E. nitens
2024 - IRG/WP 24-41011
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is a wood preservative widely used to protect against fungal and insect attack. The fixation mechanism of CCA involves complex chemical reactions, including the reduction of chromium (VI) to chromium (III) and the formation of insoluble complexes. Despite fixation efforts, a portion of CCA components tends to leach from treated wood, influenced by factors like wood ...
J R Vargas, L Yermán, K C Wood, T Singh


Multifactorial analysis of the reasons behind wood natural durability
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11065
Physical, chemical and biological properties of several wood species were investigated in order to highlight the main factors involved in wood natural durability and wood characteristic using a principal component analysis. Interaction of wood with water were evaluated using contact angle measurements to determinate wood wettability by water and wood impregnability tests with water allowing to cal...
L-F E Nkogo, M S M Mouendou, S Dumarçay, P E Engonga, F Zannini, E Gelhaye, P Gérardin


Natural and enhanced durability of wood exposed above ground
2025 - IRG/WP 25-11079
Understanding and predicting the durability of wood is essential for ensuring its effective use, long-term reliability, and sustainability in various applications. To address this need, the "Wood Above Ground" project was initiated in 1999 at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) to investigate the natural durability of wood species under a wide range of above-ground exposure scenarios. This ex...
R Digaitis, J Stenbaek, A W Christof, N Morsing, B Lindegaard


Durability Analysis of Bio-based Phenol-Formaldehyde Resin-Treated Wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20753
The aim of this study is to explore the application of bio-based materials in outdoor construction. Enhancing the durability of wood products effectively extends their carbon storage lifespan, making it essential to investigate their long-term durability. The study used commercial resin (CPF) and laboratory-synthesised petro-based phenolic resin (LPF) as control groups. Japanese cedar specimens we...
T-H Lin, P-Y Kuo


Performance Verification of Water-Based Outdoor Wood Protection Coatings Based on Weather Resistance Evaluation
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41015
Recent trends in wood protective coatings: Concerns over volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and the need to reduce maintenance costs have increased demand for environmentally friendly and highly durable coatings. While conventional solvent-based paints are superior in durability, they have been associated with problems such as environmental impact and odour during application. As an alterna...
N Ikemoto


ProFume® pre-shipment treatments of round wood against infestations with bark-breeding beetles - technical improvements
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41017
Since 2018, climate change and temperature shifts associated with this, increased the occurrence of bark-beetle induced calamity wood. Consequently, the significant Ips typographus outbreak in German spruce forests prompted harvesting, thus temporarily increasing timber market supply. This situation made Germany a key player in Europe’s log exports to China. In order to prevent the further sprea...
S Kümmritz, G M Kroos


Enhancing Wood Greying: A Study of Pre-Treatments and Iron(II) Sulphate Application
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41018
Recent trends in architecture and environmental policies have increased the demand for natural, unprotected wood in outdoor applications. However, wood exposed to the elements tends to grey unevenly, which can be problematic for visually important applications like timber façades. One solution is artificial greying with iron ions, providing a uniform colour that later transitions to natural greyi...
B Lesar, M Humar, A Kordiš


Evaluation of moisture exclusion ability of wood using double-layer outdoor exposure tests
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41021
The material resistance of wood to decay must be due to the combined effects of heartwood extractives and the moisture content state. Evaluating the moisture exclusion ability of wood is important for assessing its durability in outdoor use. We conducted previously double-layer outdoor exposure tests and investigated the relationship between moisture content over time and the progress of decay usi...
T Osawa, R Noda, K Yamamoto


A multi-dataset validation study of moisture prediction in Norway spruce wood exposed outdoors
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41029
Wood used in outdoor construction undergoes continuous cycles of wetting and drying, resulting in fluctuating moisture contents that directly influence its long-term durability. Excess moisture above a critical threshold leads to deterioration by fungal decay, limiting the service life of the structure. Service life models thus rely on accurate predictive models of moisture behaviour. However, cap...
J Niklewski, C Brischke


Quantitative Prediction of Latent Deterioration in Wood Coatings Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41038
Wood coatings play a vital role in prolonging the lifespan of timber structures by protecting them from environmental degradation. However, conventional evaluation methods rely on visual inspections, which cannot detect latent deterioration before visible damage occurs. This study integrates attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with partial least squares ...
Y Teramoto


Colorimetric performance of temperate wood species under tropical weathering
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41041
The appearance of wood, including its color and texture, is one of the most important features for its application as solid products, such as furniture, cladding, and terrace decking. Weathering can cause significant changes in the color of wooden products in outdoor applications, influencing their market acceptance and long-term performance. This study evaluated the colorimetric performance of fo...
K da Silva Pereira, S J da Costa Lima, M F C Santos, L Emmerich, C Brischke, D C Batista


Development of an Early Degradation Diagnosis Technology for Wood Coatings Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41047
Accurately predicting the degradation state of wood coatings is challenging, and as the coating deteriorates, it becomes a major factor accelerating the degradation of the wood itself. In this study, we aimed to develop a diagnostic technology that combines mid-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning to assess latent coating degradation, which cannot be detected visually, and to enable appropri...
K Nishimura, T Ito, S Isaji, T Takano, H Ohki, Y Teramoto


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