Comparison of wood coating durability in natural weathering and artificial weathering using fluorescent UV-lamps and water

Panels of pine sapwood coated with 30 different coating systems were exposed to natural weathering in Vienna as well as artificial weathering using fluorescent UV-lamps and water. The aim was to compare coating durability in natural and artificial weathering in terms of the exposure time until the panels reached a defined limit state where the coatings required maintenance. For both weathering methods the durability of the coating systems was influenced by film thickness and for the semi-transparent systems also by pigmentation. Three opaque coating systems lasted over 10,000 h of artificial weathering. Comparison of the natural and artificial weathering regarding durability of the coating systems (time to limit state) with the present results (after 30 months natural weathering) revealed a non-linear correlation. The collected data can provide a basis for rough service life estimation of exterior wood coatings based on standardised weathering methods.     

Color stability of heat-treated wood during artificial weathering

The color change of wood after exposure to UV light may produce aesthetical damages. The stability of the color to light exposure is an important issue. This study describes experiments of testing the color stability of heat-treated wood samples. Heat treatment was done at 240°C during 2 hours, under nitrogen. Heat-treated samples of ash, beech, maritime pine and poplar heartwood were exposed to UV-light (QUV equipped with fluorescent lamps UVA-340) during 835 hours. Color measurements during accelerated weathering were made at intervals throughout the test period. The results are presented in ΔE and L* a* b* coordinates according to the CIELab system. The experiments show that the color stability for heat-treated wood is better during the 835 hours of exposure when compared to untreated wood. The properties of heat treated wood (lignin modifications, and monomers of phenolic compounds) are probably involved in the retified wood resistance against UV light under experimental conditions.     

Weathering of silane treated wood

Outdoor and artificial weathering tests were performed on specimens of Scots pine sapwood treated with silanes to achieve water repellent properties. During outdoor weathering, the treatment caused a reduction in (liquid) water uptake but the sorption of moisture (air humidity) was not affected by silane treatment. The water repellent effect of vacuum-pressure treated specimens remained stable over the tested exposure period of one year, as was shown in dipping tests. Evaluation of silane treated specimens did not reveal any reduction of crack formation during exposure to weathering. The application of silanes in combination with UV light stabilizers enhanced the effectiveness of these protectants and led to higher colour stability during artificial weathering in a QUV device.     

Weathering of chemically modified wood

The weathering characteristics and microscopic structure of unfinished acetylated and untreated radiata pine are reported. Samples were exposed outdoors over 28 weeks in Rotorua, New Zealand. Acetylated veneer had improved checking resistance when compared with untreated veneer, confirming results of a previous study on accelerated weathering of untreated and acetylated veneer. Colour changes of naturally weathered untreated and acetylated veneer were very different to that of artificially weathered veneer. Acetylated veneer was only slightly less grey than untreated veneer after 28 weeks' natural weathering.     

Weathering of chemically modified wood

Acctylation of radiata pine vencer was shown to improve the colour stability and weathering resistance of material exposed to accelerated weathering conditions. Two exterior finishes, an opaque acrylic stain and a semi-transparent alkyd stain, as well as unfinished veneer, were studied. Significantly less checking was observed for unfinished, acetylated samples or acetylated vencers finished with the alkyd stain when compared with untreated controls. Examination of unifinished samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that, although checking was not completely prevented by acetylation of the vencer, it gave significant protection from the effects of weathering.     

Photo-scanning colorimetry of wood and transparent wood coatings

Although conventional spectrophotometers are well-known to give very accurate and reproducible measuring results of the wood surface colour, the areal resolution of this method is limited due to the fixed aperture size. In this study, the applicability of a colour calibrated flatbed scanner for areal-resolved colorimetry was investigated. For this purpose, the colorimetric values of several wood species calculated from images of a colour calibrated photo-scanner were correlated with those obtained by a conventional spectrophotometer. Further, this method was used to evaluate the discoloration of earlywood and latewood of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) during Xenon arc exposure as a demonstration of the potential application of this method. In addition, an investigation concerning the possibility of image analysis for the evaluation of the colour change as a consequence of the application of transparent coatings was done. Good correlation among the measured methods could be found by applying relative colour values ΔL* Δa*, Δb* and ΔE*, whereas absolute colour values L*, a* and b* obtained rather weak correlations. The investigation of the relative discoloration of earlywood and latewood of Siberian larch showed a higher amount of discoloration in the earlywood. The investigation concerning the colour change induced by the application of transparent coatings showed that it is possible to evaluate the discoloration by the coating for earlywood and latewood separately. This could be the basis for a more quantitative comparison of quality parameters of coatings like the visual contrast enhancement effect, known as wet-look or “Anfeuerung” of transparent coatings. It was concluded that when evaluating colour changes on wood the use of a calibrated photo-scanner is a valuable addition to conventional spectrophotometry.     

Wood moisture content of coated wood/aluminium windows during three years of natural weathering

Wood/aluminium windows of a standard construction with different coating systems were installed in a facade facing south-east on a building in Vienna. Over a period of three years the moisture content of the wooden frames and the climatic conditions under the aluminium layers of the windows were measured. The results showed that humidity stress on the wooden frames of the windows was very low. Condensation of water vapour underneath the aluminium layers occurred very seldom and the reactions in wood moisture content were only small. Highly permeable wood coatings with medium or low dry film layer thickness can provide a sufficient protection of the wooden frames of wood/aluminium windows against weathering impacts to obtain high durability.     

Copper and aluminium deposition by cold-plasma spray on wood surfaces: effects on natural weathering behaviour

Atmospheric pressure plasma was used to deposit thin layers of copper and aluminium micro-particles on the surface of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) boards. Three different loadings of metal particles were established. Additional wood boards were topcoated with a commercial acrylic binder. Boards were exposed to natural weathering for 18 months. Discolouration of copper-treated boards was slowed down, and the treatment at highest loading displayed the best appearance. Aluminium treatment was not sufficient to prevent or reduce discolouration. The application of an acrylic binder as topcoating enhanced the general appearance of metal-treated boards. Evaluation of treated boards did not reveal any reduction in crack formation or water uptake due to the particle deposition. Infrared spectroscopy suggested that copper does not protect lignin from photo-degradation. Nevertheless, copper treatment reduced fungal infestation on wood; at highest copper loading, blue stain did not penetrate through the treated surface.     

The impact of natural and artificial weathering on the visual,colour and structural changes of seven tropical woods

This study investigates the effects of wood weathering on changes in its macroscopic and colour characteristics in connection with changes in its molecular and anatomical structure. Seven hardwoods suitable for outdoor architecture—bangkirai, cumaru, cumaru rosa, ipé, jatobá, kusia, and massaranduba—were exposed to the exterior out of ground contact for 1–36 months according to EN 927-3, and for 1–12 weeks in Xenotest with water spraying according to partly modified EN 927-6. With prolonged weathering, the following changes occurred in the top surfaces of all tropical woods: (1) visual—creation of longitudinal macro-cracks, (2) spectrophotometry and CIE-L ^? a ^? b ^? —darkening in exterior exposure mainly due to pollutants, except for ipé, and vice versa lightening in Xenotest, as well as greening and blueing in both modes of exposure, (3) FTIR—faster decrease of guaiacyl than syringyl lignin, absolute decrease of conjugated and unconjugated carbonyl groups in the newly formed lignin-polysaccharide-extractive substrate in the photo-oxidized and washed-out cell walls, and decrease of cellulose crystallinity, (4) SEM—damaging of cell-walls by micro-cracks, and their degradation by thinning. Connections between changes of the individual characteristics of weathered woods, for example, between the colour (ΔE*, etc.) and the molecular structure (carbonyls, etc.), were also determined.     

Maintenance procedures and definition of limit states for exterior wood coatings

Maintenance procedures of different wood coating systems were studied in field exposure trials with coated balcony constructions. Maintenance coatings were applied on one half of each of the balcony parts after 18 months and assessed after 24 months of total exposure time. It was found that the opaque white coating systems were the most durable ones reaching long intervals of required maintenance. For systems with lower durability on the maintained surfaces further degradation of the coatings was prevented. Different characteristics were observed for film forming and non film forming semi-transparent varnishes. Definitions of a series of limit states for coating systems on wood were suggested including esthetical limits and three levels of durability limits. Film forming coatings can reach two durability limits, i.e. the maintenance interval and the renovation interval. For non film forming coatings there is only one limit state of coating durability where maintenance is needed. The third durability limit is related to the coated substrate, i.e. the wood component, by the onset of decay in wood.     

Artificial weathering of wood surfaces modified by melamine formaldehyde resins

Spruce and poplar samples were treated with different melamine formaldehyde resins. A long term artificial weathering experiment was performed in order to clarify the resistance to weathering regarding wood colour and surface hardness. The increase in hardness due to melamine treatment was well preserved after simulated long term weathering. The treated samples also showed advantages compared to untreated reference samples regarding discolouration and crack formation. Low molar mass and low degree of methylolation of the melamine resin used was found to be favourable for a successful treatment.     

Critical aspects on accelerated methods for predicting weathering resistance of wood based panels

Critically analyzing accelerated aging methods, the following items are summarized with respect to the conditions of weathering wood based panels. 1) Performance requirements and their transformation into property levels. 2) Chemical structure and bonding of wood based panels. 3) Short and long term effects of moisture, temperature and their cyclic influence as well as related chemical reactions and physical mechanisms. 4) Accelerating factors which are useful in artificial aging. Examples are given from an experimental comparison of panels subjected to several accelerating methods and to exterior exposure. Based on this analysis, proposals are made how to select suitable procedures to accelerate the aging of wood based panels.     

Weathering characteristics of wood treated with water glass, siloxane or DMDHEU

Specimens of Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris) and beech wood (Fagus sylvatica) were treated with a sodium water glass solution, an amino-alkyl-functional oligomeric siloxane and 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU). The specimens were exposed outside without ground contact for 24 months. Colour measurements during outside exposure showed a discoloration of all wood specimen surfaces. FTIR spectroscopy displayed lignin degradation of all specimens during the initial exposure time. Chemical treatments decelerated fungal infestation of wood, while their effect on lignin degradation was not discernible. SEM studies revealed that fungal infestation was affected by the different treatments. The untreated specimens showed radial penetration of fungal hyphae through the pits. Only superficial infestation and no radial penetration were visible at water glass and siloxane treated specimens. A significantly reduced radial penetration of fungal hyphae was exhibited at DMDHEU treated specimens. Fungal infestation through the pits was not visible.     

Chemical structure of arsenic and chromium in CCA-treated wood: implications of environmental weathering

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has been used to treat lumber for over 60 years to increase the expected lifetime of CCA-treated wood. Because of the toxicity of the arsenic and chromium used in CCA treatment, regulatory and public attention has become focused on the potential risks from this exposure source. In particular, exposure of children to arsenic from CCA-treated wood used in decks and play sets has received considerable attention. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) was used to evaluate the chemical structure of As and Cr in three samples of CCA-treated materials: newly treated wood, aged wood (5 years as decking), and dislodgeable residue from aged (1-4 years as decking) CCA-treated wood. The form of the Cr and As in CCA-treated material is the same in fresh and aged samples, and between treated wood and dislodged residue. In all cases, the dominant oxidation state of the two elements is As(V) and Cr(III), and the local chemical environment of the two elements is best represented as a Cr/As cluster consisting of a Cr dimer bridged by an As(V) oxyanion. Long-term stability of the As/Cr cluster is suggested by its persistence from the new wood through the aged wood and the dislodgeable residue.     

Antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles in transparent wood coatings

Results on the antimicrobial efficacy of silver nanoparticles in transparent wood coatings for outdoor application are presented. The performance of different hydrophobic, transparent coating systems with and without silver was studied during 2 years of natural weathering. In addition, laboratory efficacy tests were carried out on non-weathered and weathered specimens to assess the resistance of the coatings against mold, blue stain and algae. The protective effect of the tested silver containing coatings against common microorganisms was insufficient, even under initial, non-weathered conditions. Reasons for the failure are the inadequate initial silver concentrations below 50 ppm in the coatings and the associated insufficient availability of free silver ions on the coating surface.     

Effect of simulated rainfall and weathering on release of preservative elements from CCA treated wood

The release of arsenic from wood pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) can be decreased by application of wood finishes, but little is known about the types of finishes that are best suited for this purpose. This study evaluated the effects of finish water repellent content and ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the release of arsenic, copper, and chromium from CCA-treated wood exposed to simulated rainfall. Deck boards treated with CCA were either left unfinished or dipped in a finish prepared with 1%, 3%, or 5% water repellent. All specimens were exposed to leaching from simulated rainfall, and a subset of specimens was also exposed to UV radiation. The rainfall was collected and analyzed for total elemental arsenic, copper, and chromium. The water repellent significantly decreased the amounts of these elements in the runoff, but for the short duration of this study there was no difference among the three water repellent concentrations. It is possible that water repellent content would have a greater effect over a longer exposure period. Exposure to UV radiation caused a significant increase in leaching from both finished and unfinished specimens. This effect may be a result of increased surface area during weathering as well as loss of fibers caused by UV-induced surface erosion.     

Outdoor weathering performance parameters of exterior wood coating systems on tropical hardwood substrates

Wood coating research almost exclusively focuses on softwood as substrate despite the fact that coatings applied on tropical hardwoods show a different weathering behaviour. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of wood substrate and coating type on the weathering behaviour of finished wooden joinery in outdoor exposure using a set of statistical methods. Therefore, a broad range of white opaque paints and mid-oak semi-transparent stains were used. The coatings were industrially applied on window frames made of frequently used commercial tropical hardwood species. The general appearance of the wood/coating systems was assessed visually using a rating scale that takes into account the anatomical characteristics of hardwood. For the evaluation, a required minimum exposure time of 2.5 years outdoor weathering for joinery in vertical position and facing south-west was determined. At 30 months best performances were recorded for waterborne alkyd primers with an acrylic topcoat when dry coating film was sufficiently thick. The dry layer thickness also affected the impact of the hiding power on the performance of the wood/coating system. Within hardwood species the degradation rate of coatings on species with a fine texture was the lowest. The significant influence of the substrate’s texture on the weathering behaviour of coated hardwood stressed the need to evaluate the wood/coating system in total.     

Weathering of uncoated and coated wood treated with methylated 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (mDMDHEU)

Scots pine (Pinus silvestris L.) sapwood panels were treated with a methylated 1,3-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethyleneurea (mDMDHEU) causing weight gains of approx. 25% and were exposed to weathering for 18 months. Compared to untreated panels, treatment with mDMDHEUreduced surface discoloration mainly caused by staining fungi. Panels treated with mDMDHEU clearly exhibited lower moisture content throughout the exposure time and lower water uptake in periodical submersion tests. The treatment also reduced deformation (cupping) and crack formation of the panels due to weathering (assessed as waviness and surface roughness). When coated panels were compared, a pre-treatment with mDMDHEU resulted in lower water uptake in periodical submersion tests, less discoloration, minor deformation (cupping) and less crack formation (assessed as waviness and surface roughness). Oil-based coatings did not peel off the mDMDHEU treated panel surfaces as observed for the untreated panel surfaces.