Fourier Transform Infrared Radiation Spectroscopy Applied for Wood Rot Decay and Mould Fungi Growth Detection

Bjørn Petter Jelle,Per Jostein Hovde

doi:10.1155/2012/969360

Abstract

Material characterization may be carried out by the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) radiation spectroscopical technique, which represents a powerful experimental tool. The ATR technique may be applied on both solid state materials, liquids, and gases with none or only minor sample preparations, also including materials which are nontransparent to IR radiation. This facilitation is made possible by pressing the sample directly onto various crystals, for example, diamond, with high refractive indices, in a special reflectance setup. Thus ATR saves time and enables the study of materials in a pristine condition, that is, the comprehensive sample preparation by pressing thin KBr pellets in traditional FTIR transmittance spectroscopy is hence avoided. Materials and their ageing processes, both ageing by natural and accelerated climate exposure, decomposition and formation of chemical bonds and products, may be studied in an ATR-FTIR analysis. In this work, the ATR-FTIR technique is utilized to detect wood rot decay and mould fungi growth on various building material substrates. An experimental challenge and aim is to be able to detect the wood rot decay and mould fungi growth at early stages when it is barely visible to the naked eye. Another goal is to be able to distinguish between various species of fungi and wood rot.

Highlights

Wood rot decay and mould fungi growth on building materials represent a challenging problem
A specific fungal specimen may be latent with no growth below a certain temperature and might be exterminated above a certain temperature, where the temperature range will vary for each specimen
For application of the attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method for climate-aged wood substrates and for comparison of accelerated climate ageing methods of polymer building materials by FTIR, it is referred to the studies by Jelle et al [20] and Jelle and Nilsen [21], respectively

Summary

Introduction

Wood rot decay and mould fungi growth on building materials represent a challenging problem. In addition to the building damages, for example, wood rot decay, often due to unwanted water ingress, one of the large risks is related to mould fungi growth. For example, between watertight barriers, which has no possible way to dry or drain out, may lead to mould fungi growth under certain conditions. We are trying to utilize the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) radiation experimental technique in order to detect wood rot decay and mould fungi growth on building material substrates. An experimental challenge of special interest is to be able to detect the wood rot decay and fungi growth at early stages when the fungi species are barely visible to the naked eye. For application of the ATR-FTIR method for climate-aged wood substrates and for comparison of accelerated climate ageing methods of polymer building materials by FTIR, it is referred to the studies by Jelle et al [20] and Jelle and Nilsen [21], respectively

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusions