IRG Documents Database and Compendium


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A comparative study and evaluation of methodologies used for determining wood preservative penetration
2011 - IRG/WP 11-20475
A series of methods for determining penetration of wood preservatives into the wood structure have been developed for either quality control (QC) or research and development purposes. QC methods range from monitoring the solution uptake, applying colour indicators or sampling specific wood samples followed by wood acid digestion/atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or solvent extraction/chromatogr...
R Craciun, R Moeller, J Wittenzellner, T Jakob, J Habicht


Using an accelerated laboratory method to evaluate Aureobasidium pullulans colonization on painted surfaces and underlying wood substrate
2012 - IRG/WP 12-20480
Mold growth on painted surfaces can lead to premature paint film failure and is unsightly. Aureobasidium pullulans has been identified as a major cause of black stain on surfaces painted with acrylic or latex paints. In this study, an accelerated laboratory method developed by Zabel and Horner (1981) was used with modifications to the type of agar used and sample evaluation methods. A study was ...
C Schauwecker, L Burns, A Preston


Use of Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy for in situ Observation of Degradation of Wood Surfaces during Artificial Weathering
2012 - IRG/WP 12-20489
Variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM) is capable of observing electrically non-conductive materials like wood without the need to render the surface conductive by applying a coating of gold, platinum or carbon. Hence, there is the possibility that VPSEM could be used to non-destructively follow the structural changes occurring at wood surfaces during weathering, because specimens ...
F Hatae, Y Kataoka, M Kiguchi, H Matsunaga, J Matsumura


Effects of microclimate, wood temperature and surface colour on fungal disfigurement on wooden claddings
2012 - IRG/WP 12-20490
Wooden claddings are common in façades in Norway, and Norway spruce (Picea abies) is the most frequently used species. The cladding is a major part of the facade, and it has visual requirements that may define the aesthetic service life. The visual changes that occur during weathering can be colour changes, abrasion or wear, blistering, flaking, and even cracks in the wood or coating, but more of...
L Ross Gobakken, G I Vestøl


Water uptake of wood surfaces with and without coating: influence of weathering
2012 - IRG/WP 12-40580
The objective of this study was to compare liquid water absorption of wood surfaces with and without coating, before and after artificial weathering. Samples of spruce, oak and sapelli were exposed to the EN 927-6 cycle for 1500 and 1850 hours and to the weathering produced by the Garner wheel for 1000 hours. Two highly pigmented coatings (solventborne and waterborne) and two semi-transparent stai...
L Podgorski, S Collignan, J D Lanvin


Protective nanoparticle coating reducing water absorption of wood species
2012 - IRG/WP 12-40614
Nanoparticle coatings were deposited onto different tropical wood samples for controlling the surface hydrophobicity. The styrene(maleimide) nanoparticles were synthesized in aqueous dispersions under pure conditions or in combination with 70 wt.-% palm oil. A first evaluation of the non-coated wood surfaces indicates a high dependence between the water contact angles, the average surface roughnes...
P Samyn, A Paredes, G Becker, H Van den Abbeele, L Vonck, D Stanssens


Influence of coatings on water uptake of wood surfaces before and after natural and artificial weathering
2013 - IRG/WP 13-40641
Liquid water absorption of wood surfaces with and without coating, before and after exposure to artificial and natural weathering has been studied. Spruce, oak and sapele samples have been exposed to the cycle of EN 927-6, to the cycle of the Gardner wheel and to natural weathering. Five coatings were tested including solventborne and waterborne, semi-transparent and opaque products. Exposure to w...
L Podgorski, S Collignan, J-D Lanvin


Influence of Exposure Direction on Leaching of a Biocide from Painted Wood Surfaces
2014 - IRG/WP 14-50303
The objective of this project was to investigate the influence different exposure directions – North, East, South and West on the cumulative quantity of a biocide leached from painted wood surfaces due to rainfall and the consequences for the risk assessment. The study included a solvent-borne primer without biocides and a topcoat protected with a biocidal active substance. Both products were a...
M Klamer


Effects of UV Radiation on Melanization and Growth of Fungi Isolated from Weathered Wood Surfaces
2015 - IRG/WP 15-10842
This research tests the hypothesis that fungi isolated from weathered wood will respond to elevated levels of UV radiation by increasing their melanin production. To test this hypothesis, we measured the melanin production and mycelial color of Aureobasidium pullulans and Cladosporium cladosporioides, before and after the fungi were grown under artificial UV, visible light and complete darkness. T...
V A Hernández, P D Evans


Identification of the key factors influencing development of the blue stain fungi
2016 - IRG/WP 16-10872
Service life of wood is more and more frequently affected by aesthetic requirements than functional ones. In order to elucidate various aspects of service life, model house with façade elements made of 22 materials was built on the field test site at Department of Wood Science and Technology in Ljubljana. Colour and fungal disfigurement is among other parameters monitored on this house. In parall...
D Kržišnik, B Lesar, N Thaler, M Humar


Accelerated weathering and fungal resistance of wood modified with isopropenyl acetate
2016 - IRG/WP 16-40764
Chemical modification of Rubberwood (Heveabrasiliensis Müll.Arg) with isopropenyl acetate (IPA) in presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride and iodine as catalysts was carried out. Modified wood surfaces were exposed to UV light source in an accelerated weathering tester to evaluate UV resistance. Anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) and fungal resistance of modified wood were also evaluated. Modified w...
G B Nagarajappa, K K Pandey


Fungal growth on coated wood exposed outdoors: influence of coating pigmentation, cardinal direction and inclination of wood surfaces
2017 - IRG/WP 17-10896
The objective of the SERVOWOOD project was to develop and establish European Standards that will facilitate the prediction of service life for exterior wood coatings. One of the objective of this project was to study fungal growth of the field exposed panels. Two coatings applied in 2 and 3 coats were exposed for one year outdoors at 45° south: one solventborne (alkyd based) and one waterborne (a...
L Podgorski, C Reynaud, M Montibus


Aesthetic changes of coated thermally modified wood after artificial weathering
2017 - IRG/WP 17-40819
The thermal modification process affects the chemical configuration of the wood matrix improving some physical properties and durability. In addition, the distinctive dark tones of thermally modified timber increase the economic value of several light-coloured species. However, heat-treatment alters the substrates and it could influence in the application of coating products, necessaries to mainta...
R Herrera, J Sandak, E Robles, J Labidi


Colour changes in unpainted wooden façades – Fifty Shades of Grey
2018 - IRG/WP 18-10903
In Norway the use of weathered unpainted, wooden façades has increased in popularity the last 20 years, both in single family houses as well as in multi-story and non-residential buildings. The benefit of using unpainted wood as façade material can be several: low maintenance costs, low environmental impact and low carbon footprint as well as contemporary and trendy aesthetic appearance. The va...
K Zimmer, L R Gobakken, O Flindall, M Nygaard


Charring of Norway spruce wood surface – an alternative surface modification technique?
2019 - IRG/WP 19-40870
Charring is an old wood surface treatment technique, mainly performed on wooden façade elements with the aesthetical aims, but also with the purpose of protection. This flame treatment method can be grouped into heat treatment processes. Below the top charred layer of damaged wood there is a layer which is during flame treatment exposed to high temperatures in anoxic or semi-anoxic conditions. Th...
M Petric, M Pavlic, J Zigon


Effect of pretreatment of wood surfaces with a copper monoethanolamine solution on the natural weathering performance of semitransparent stains
2019 - IRG/WP 19-40881
Semitransparent stains for wood products are favored for outdoor applications in Japan because these finishes do not hide the wood grain. However, the photoprotective effects of wood surfaces are low, therefor there is a need to improve the weathering performance. We examined the natural weathering performance of semitransparent stains on wood pretreated with a copper monoethanolamine solution (Cu...
S Isaji, H Shibui, Y Hirabayashi


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


Effect of nano-particle characteristics and concentration on UV protection of timber: A field exposure test
2022 - IRG/WP 22-40941
Wood has a well-known susceptibility to ultra-violet light degradation, leading to premature replacement. A variety of products have been developed to protect against this damage, but most provide less than 12 months of protection and must be regularly reapplied. Developing improved coatings would help reduce wood losses and reduce maintenance costs. Nano-particles have a variety of attractive pro...
T Yi, J J Morrell


Citric acid/urea derivatives as an anti-discolouration treatment for wood surfaces
2025 - IRG/WP 25-20741
The exterior-use wood faces raining and sunlight exposure, which can cause property changes of the wood, such as the discolouration, dimensional instability, and biological attack. This article explores the use of citric acid and urea as surface protection of wood. The heating of citric acid and urea can result in the fluorescent carbon dots. These carbon dots can absorb UV light with the emission...
C-F Lin, O Myronycheva, D Jones, O Karlsson


The impact of common fire retardancy salts and minerals on further properties of wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30821
Wood has become an increasingly important construction material. To ensure fire safety, fire retardants are widely applied. Recent research focuses on environmentally friendly fire retardants with strong fixation. Phosphate-based salts like diammonium hydrogen phosphate show high fire protection potential but are highly leachable due to their good water solubility. As a newer trend mineralisation ...
T Franke, T Volkmer


Plasma Modification of Basswood Creates Super-Black Wood
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30826
A super-black wood with low reflectivity in the UV/Vis range is created by plasma modifying transverse basswood surfaces. Here the super-black wood is characterised, the process used to make it is described and its possible practical uses are discussed. Wood samples are exposed to oxygen glow-discharge plasma. Transverse surfaces exposed to high-energy plasma have a deep-black velvety appearance. ...
K J Cheng, D Feng, M Turner, L Schmidt, P D Evans


Introduction of UV absorbers to wood surfaces via atom transfer radical polymerization
2025 - IRG/WP 25-30834
Wood is a promising material suited for both residential and commercial construction. However, the structure of the wood materials varies depending on the environmental factors such as microorganisms, water, and light. In particular, wood surfaces exposed to outdoor conditions are rapidly degraded because cell wall chemical components such as lignin structure strongly absorb ultraviolet (UV) light...
K Maezaki, Y Mori, M Kiguchi


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


Effect of photodegradation on fungal colonization on wood during initial stage of brown-rot decay
2025 - IRG/WP 25-41024
Photodegradation and decay may happen simultaneously on wood under many exposure conditions. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of photodegradation on fungal colonization during initial stage of brown-rot decay of wood. For this purpose, southern pine (Pinus spp.) wood was exposed to accelerated UV weathering for different durations, and then decayed by a brown rot fungus (Gloeophyllu...
Y Wang, Y Peng, J Cao


Danish wood preservatives approval system with special focus on assessment of the environmental risks associated with industrial wood preservatives
2001 - IRG/WP 01-50166-01
The following is a description of the procedure used by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency to assess the environmental risks associated with preservatives used in the pressure impregnation of wood. The risk assessment covers issues considered to be of significance for the environment and which are adequately documented so as to allow an assessment. Such issues are persistence and mobility ...
J Larsen


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