Surface characteristics of heated and varnished Oriental beech after accelerated weathering

This study was performed to investigate some surface characteristics such as surface hardness, surface roughness, and color changes of heated and varnished Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) after accelerated weathering. Heat treatment of Oriental beech wood was carried out by hot air in an oven for 0.5, 1, and 1.5 h at 210, 220, and 230°C. After heat treatment, Oriental beech wood specimens were varnished using a polyurethane varnish. The results showed that accelerated weathering generally caused increase of surface hardness of Oriental beech. Surface roughness and total color changes of heated and varnished Oriental beech were lower than only varnished (control) Oriental beech after accelerated weathering. Heated and varnished Oriental beech wood gave better surface characteristics than only varnished oriental beech after accelerated weathering.

Weathering properties of Scots pine treated with some chemicals

This study was aimed to investigate the gloss, surface hardness, surface roughness, and color changes of Scots pine that was treated with some chemicals after six months of weathering exposure. Chromated copper boron (CCB), vacsol aqua, and imersol aqua were used as the impregnation chemicals. Scots pine wood specimens were impregnated with 3% aqueous solutions of the chemicals according to ASTM standards.The results showed that while chemical treatment caused a decrease in surface hardness, gloss, and lightness of wood specimens, it increased the surface roughness of the wood before weathering. While the gloss values of all treated Scots pine specimens increased after weathering, the gloss loss was observed for the untreated specimen after weathering. All of the treated and untreated Scots pine wood surfaces were softened after weathering. The chemical treatment caused a decrease of surface roughness of wood after weathering. While in terms of the gloss, surface hardness, and surface roughness changes, the vacsol aqua-treated pine specimens gave the best results. The CCB-treated Scots pine showed the best color stability after weathering.