Localized Wood Surface Modification, Part I: Method Characterization

• Main Authors: Diego Elustondo, Olena Myronycheva, Bror Sundqvist, Olov Karlsson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina State University 2016-11-01
• Series: BioResources
• Subjects: Scots pine; Wood surface modification; Heating-and-cooling; Compression-and-expansion
• Online Access: http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_12_1_283_Elustondo_Localized_Wood_Surface_Modification
• ISSN: 1930-2126; 1930-2126

This study assesses the potential of an open process for treatment of European Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) with chemicals that could potentially make the surfaces stronger, more dimensionally stable, or more durable, depending on the treatment solution. The method provides an intermediate solution between full volume impregnation by pressure treatment and superficial surface treatment by dipping. Figuratively speaking, the process creates the equivalent of a layer of coating applied below the wood surfaces rather than above. Two different techniques were compared, namely, heating-and-cooling (H&C) and compression-and-expansion (C&E). Taking into account that commercial suppliers recommend 0.15 to 0.25 L/m2 of coating in sawn wood and 0.1 to 0.15 L/m2 in planed wood surfaces, then this study demonstrates that the H&C method can impregnate an equivalent amount of solution under the surfaces in less than 15 min using treatment temperatures below 150 °C.