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9.3 Innovative Method for Assessing Penetration Depth of Wood Protective Resins in Spruce Veneer via Infrared Microscopy

Katrin Fradler

Project Manager

Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry

Co-author(s):
Katrin Fradler, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Elisabeth Schöffmann, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Sandra Jury, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Arunjunai Raj  Mahendran, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Judith Sinic, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Christoph Jocham, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry
Herfried Lammer, Wood K Plus – Competence Center for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry

Wood requires protection against environmental and biological degradation, therefore, to prolong its service life, a common method is impregnation. A study was conducted, in which acryl urethan modified alkyd impregnation was carried out on spruce veneer. Standard characterization by weight percent gain does not give any indications of the distribution in the wooden structure. The impregnation of veneer was characterized for the first time by using infrared-microscopy in combination with Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) to determine not only the penetration depth but furthermore in-depth chemical information throughout the wooden structure composition (impregnation resin, lumina, cell wall). This method does not rely on pre-treatment such as staining or labelling of the impregnation, which often depends on the solubility of the chemical in various matrix environments. Therefore, this new approach is an easy applicable and uncomplicated method for the localization of the impregnation resin in wood veneers including its interaction with the wooden structure components.
To better understand the interaction between the impregnation resin and the wood matrix, Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR), a chemometric tool, was employed. MCR was used to assign the components to the resulting IR-microscopy false colour image which was obtained through Principal Component Analysis (PCA). This method enables a clear location identification of the impregnation resin within the wood structure. Analysis of the fingerprint region revealed that both the wood cell walls and lumina are penetrated by the resin. The component spectra clearly identified the impregnation resin as the acryl-urethane-modified alkyd resin, which was primarily located in the outermost wood cells. 
This innovative method holds significant potential for characterizing wood treated with unknown substances, facilitating the determination of its composition and penetration depth. Such insights could contribute to assessing the recyclability and usability of wood as a secondary raw material.

References:

Session: 

  • 9. Advanced analysis of biomass

Day: 

  • Monday June 16

Time: 

  • 16:50-17:10

Room: 

  • F3
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