Current Researches on the Protection of Exterior Wood from Weathering

Abstract

A review of research trends on wood surface protection for exterior use obtained the following conclusions: It has been reported that inorganic compounds such as chrome and copper used as wood preservatives can protect wood from weathering. It has been shown that precoating with hydrophobic substances such as wax and oil, UV absorbers, and HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers) enhances weathering resistance on the surface of ACQ-treated wood. Opaque coatings of paint/stains and semitransparent stains on the surface of preservative treated wood can increase the synergistic effects on prevention of weathering deterioration. Also the need for repainting periodically for the protection of the preservative treated wood surface has also been suggested. ZnO or TiO2 of fine particles, metal ions such as Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni and Ti, and UV absorbers such as tris-resorcinol triazine derivatives, triazine and benzotriazole were introduced as additives for preventing UV in the transparent coating on wood. Several reports showed that chemical modification such as methylation, acetylation, or alkylations have made some increases the effects of preventing weathering with the increasing weight gain of chemical formulas. In heat-treated wood, there were various contradictory reports on the resistance of weathering, and there were some other reports emphasizing the necessity of painting with UV resistance, which leads to the necessity of more advanced studies.