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Changes in wettability of heat-treated wood due to artificial weathering

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Abstract

Effect of artificial weathering on the wettability of three heat-treated North American wood species (jack pine, aspen, and birch) is studied from the point of view of the structural and chemical changes taking place on the wood surface. Weathering increases wettability of all three heat-treated woods by water. Changes in wettability during artificial weathering differ according to heat treatment procedure and wood species and are likely due to combination of structural and chemical changes of the surfaces. Scanning electron microscopic analysis indicates that cracks form due to degradation taking place during weathering. As a result, water has easier entry into the cell wall, which consequently increases wettability. IR spectra suggest that the OH/CH2 ratio for heat-treated specimens is inversely proportional to the contact angle regardless of the type of wood species. The presence of cellulose-rich layer on wood surface and increasing amount of amorphous cellulose transformed from crystallized cellulose due to weathering result in increase in hydroxyl; consequently, it increases heat-treated wood wettability.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la nature et les technologies (FQRNT), Développement Économique Canada (DEC), Ministère du Développement Économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation (MDEIE), Conférence Régionale des Élus du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean (CRÉ), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Fondation de l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (FUQAC), FPInnovation, Alberta Innovates, and industrial partners (PCI Ind., Ohlin Thermotech, Kisis Technology, and Industries ISA) for their technical and financial contributions as well as Centre universitaire de recherche sur l’aluminium (CURAL) for valuable assistance and technical support during SEM tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, boul. de l’Université, Chicoutimi, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada

    Xianai Huang, Duygu Kocaefe, Yasar Kocaefe & Andre Pichette

  2. University of Alberta, 3-142 Markin/CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2W2, Canada

    Yaman Boluk

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  1. Xianai Huang
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  2. Duygu Kocaefe
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Correspondence to Duygu Kocaefe.

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Huang, X., Kocaefe, D., Kocaefe, Y. et al. Changes in wettability of heat-treated wood due to artificial weathering. Wood Sci Technol 46, 1215–1237 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-012-0479-6

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