Natural weathering test at two different European climatic zones were conducted to investigate simultaneously both, the fungal colonisation and process of Scots pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.). The hypothesis was that performing differently in various climate conditions might affect infestation. colour changes, wettability, glossiness measured as indicators progress together with an assessment diversity. Different intensities weathering, occupancy, fungi on wooden surface detected. A higher...

Abstract Acetylation greatly increases the decay resistance of wood, but even highly acetylated wood can be degraded by fungi if given sufficient time. This study investigated degradation brown rot fungus Rhodonia placenta , aiming to understand fungal-induced changes in wood-water relations that are associated with decay. Acetylated samples as well unacetylated references were exposed R. a stacked-sample test generate different stages The decayed used investigate acetyl content, water...

Wood extractives are biologically active secondary metabolites that help protect wood and products from decay other forms of biological attack. Despite the influence distribution on their ability to wood, very few studies have investigated distributions a cellular level. In this paper, were studied in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) heartwood (HW) knot by confocal Raman spectroscopy imaging. Pinosylvins, antifungal phenolic pine, found be present cell walls, middle lamella, lumina...

Abstract Brown rot (BR) fungi are highly destructive wood decaying organisms that utilise free radicals in the initial stages of decay. Although many extractives have been shown to antioxidant (AO) activity, their ability protect from radical-based degradation has received little attention. The present paper reports on Scots pine heartwood (hW) and knotwood (knW) inhibit degradation, with a focus Fenton reaction. AO assays showed extract solutions pure pinosylvins had good radical scavenging...

Heat treatment increases the decay resistance of wood by decreasing its hygroscopicity, but material remains degradable fungi. This study investigated degradation heat-treated brown rot fungi, with aim identifying fungal-induced hygroscopicity changes that facilitate degradation. Scots pine sapwood samples were modified under superheated steam at 200 and 230 °C then exposed to Coniophora puteana Rhodonia placenta in a stacked-sample test produce different stages decay. Sorption isotherms...

Abstract The heartwoods of many wood species have natural resistance to decay due the accumulation antifungal heartwood extractives. durability has been extensively investigated, yet very little information is available on initiation decay. This experiment examined onset Rhodonia placenta brown rot in Scots pine order identify key changes leading An imaging approach based Raman and multivariate image analysis revealed that degradation began innermost cell wall layers then spread into...

The service life performance of timber products exposed to natural weathering is a critical factor limiting the broad use wood as an external building element. goal this study was investigate in-service characterization innovative biofinish coating system. It novel surface finishing solution based on bioinspired concept living fungal cells designed for effective protection. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) coated with compared uncoated references. Samples were 12 months under climatic...

Abstract The uptake of moisture severely affects the properties wood in service applications. Even local content variations may be critical, but such are typically not detected by traditional methods to quantify wood. In this study, we used near-infrared hyperspectral imaging predict distribution on surfaces at macroscale. A broad range contents were generated controlling acetylation degree and relative humidity during sample conditioning. Near-infrared image spectra then measured from...

The moisture uptake of wood is influenced by accessible hydroxyl groups acting as sorption sites and the water-available cell wall space. To what extent do these mechanisms control in needs to be addressed. For this purpose, we modified site density space treatments with acetic anhydride or formaldehyde investigated their effects on uptake. Chemical changes at level caused were first determined confocal Raman imaging. Following this, deuterium exchange method was used gravimetrically measure...

Brown rot fungi cause a type of wood decay characterized by carbohydrate degradation and lignin modification. The chemical physical changes caused brown are usually studied using bulk analytical methods, but these methods fail to consider local variations within the material. In this study we applied hyperspectral near infrared imaging Scots pine sapwood samples exposed Coniophora puteana Rhodonia placenta obtain position-resolved information on fungal degradative process. A stacked-sample...

Abstract Acetylation is a chemical treatment method commonly used to improve the hygroscopic properties of wood. Although acetylation has been industrially for decades, its effects on different hierarchical structures wood are still poorly understood. In laboratory, generally measured gravimetrically. Weighing sample before and after modification procedure provides an indirect measure degree within entire but does not provide detailed information structural regions Here, we determined...

Abstract The objective of the study was to investigate water vapour sorption behaviour thermally modified (TM) wood powder, e.g. ground prepared from waste streams TM solid wood, and powder that extracted in pressurised hot water. Solid spruce steam conditions (210°C for 3 h), milled hot-water-extracted (HWE) at elevated pressure (140°C 1 h). results evidence hot-water extraction reduced accessible hydroxyl group concentration by removal amorphous carbohydrates. In contrast, enhanced...

Several bacteria causing infections can remain infectious on surfaces from hours to several days and weeks. Antibacterial properties of wood are poorly understood in terms dry contamination via hands, as large majority previous research has been carried out by using liquid inoculation methods. The effects surface treatments antimicrobial activity require more investigation. Here, 18 different every-day indoor materials, i.e., non-treated wooden surfaces, with other treatments, solid...

Abstract Acetylation is a wood modification method that reduces the hygroscopicity of and increases its resistance to degradation by decaying fungi. Even though acetylated can have very high decay resistance, material be degraded sometimes deacetylated This study investigated deacetylation Coniophora puteana Rhodonia placenta better understand relationship between in two different brown rot Wood samples were exposed fungi stacked-sample test, followed acetyl content measurements FTIR...

Decay resistance is an important property of heartwood timber. The decay Scots pine correlates with its stilbene content, but the determination both requires laborious and destructive analyses. To aid in these properties, we investigated feasibility optical method based on intensity UV-excited fluorescence for non-destructive measurement content resistance. Fluorescence measurements carried out samples from 58 trees showed a high correlation (r = 0.79, p < 0.000) between content. intensities...

Abstract Hot water extraction (HWE) treatment changes the physicochemical properties of wood, including hygroscopic properties. HWE decreases hydroxyl accessibility but relevance other mechanisms that change are not fully understood. This study investigates effect drying on and sorption wood. Pressurized hot was applied at 140 °C for 1–5 h to Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood samples in order remove increasingly more hemicellulose from cell wall matrix. Following treatment, half wood...

Scots pine heartwood is known to have resistance wood decay due the presence of extractives, namely stilbenes and resin acids. However, previous studies indicated that these extractives are degradable by decaying fungi. This study aimed investigate relationship between extractive degradation in detail gain insight into mechanisms degradation. Mass losses recorded after a stacked-sample test with brown rot fungi showed had substantial against Coniophora puteana but little Rhodonia placenta ....

In this study, the moisture resistance properties of self-bonded plywood were enhanced by thermal modification. The was prepared without any adhesive, using only heat, and mechanical compression. It is known that or wood welding joints suffer from delamination under moist conditions. results show can be enhanced, i.e. tendency reduced eliminated (almost totally) post-manufacture This most probably caused lowered water absorption, relaxation stored strain energy formation crosslinks within...

Abstract Pressurized hot water extraction (HWE) treatment has the benefit of simultaneous hemicellulose-based carbohydrates and modification solid phase, but it does not drastically improve wood durability. However, removing hemicelluloses from by HWE creates water-filled spaces in cell walls which could be filled with agent order to properties wood. Without drying, can added into saturated via diffusion. The esterification citric acid (CA) improves resistance biological deterioration...