Abstract
To quickly clarify the effect of heat treatment on weatherability of Cunninghamia lanceolate (Lamb.) Hook., we investigated the surface degradation under natural exposure. A comparison between heat-treated and untreated samples was taken based on surface color changes and structural decay at each interval. Over four weeks of natural exposure, multiple measurements were carried out. Results show that color change decreased in the order of 220 °C heat-treated > untreated > 190 °C heat-treated. The results also indicate that the wood surface color stability was improved via the proper temperature of thermal modification. Low vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LVSEM) results expressed that thermal modification itself had caused shrinking in the wood surface structure. From the beginning of the weathering process, the heat treatment affected the surface structural stability. After natural exposure, the degree of wood structure decay followed the pattern 220 °C heat-treated > 190 °C heat-treated > untreated. Therefore, when considering the impact on the structure, thermal modification treatment as a protective measure to prevent weathering was not an ideal approach and requires further improvement.
Highlights
In recent years, the wood protection industry has been paying greater attention to environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional wood protection treatments
When wood is exposed to natural conditions, other factors such as moisture and microorganism growth contribute to the degradation
We conclude that heat treatment of wood could not improve structural stability; on the contrary, it would aggravate the decline of the anatomical structural structure
Summary
The wood protection industry has been paying greater attention to environmentally friendly substitutes for traditional wood protection treatments. One existing environmentally conscious method is the thermal modification of wood. Modified wood does not impregnate the material with any harmful substances or chemicals and the finished material does not produce environmental pollution. In the heat-treatment process, the wood is heated to high temperatures, ranging from 160 ◦ C to 260 ◦ C, for various standing times based on the species and the desired material properties [1,2,3,4]. It reduces the equilibrium moisture content, improves hydrophobicity, enhances dimensional stability, maintains uniform wood color, and offers improved protection, especially against damage caused by micro-organisms and insects. Thermally-modified wood has many applications for exterior structures, including terraces, fences, decks, cladding, garden furniture, doors, and windows; as well as interior uses, e.g., decorative panels, parquet, kitchen furniture, and saunas [3,6,7]
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