Study of linseed oil on white poplar wood (Populus alba L.) as a traditional treatment for historical wooden relics against weathering

Abstract

Large part of wooden relics is located in open air spaces under weathering exposure. Conservation of the relics has a great importance due to their cultural values. Application of linseed oil in conservation backs to centuries ago. Today, it is used as a traditional treatment of wooden relics extensively. Regarding to importance of historical wooden relics, there is a need for detail study of traditional treatments. Therefore, conservative properties of linseed oil treatment on white poplar wood (Populus alba L.) was studied under weathering exposure. Firstly, linseed oil absorption of the wood samples was measured and its leaching was evaluated according to BS EN 84:1997. Treated wood samples were artificially weathered regarding to ASTM 2565-99. After 300 and 800 hours weathering, samples were analyzed by Colorimeter, FTIR spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that linseed oil treatment has a good resistance against leaching but causes to serious aesthetical changes which were continued during weathering process. FTIR data were indicated structural degradation of treated samples after weathering. The degradation was clarified as rupture and cracks of cell walls and vessel pits in SEM images of wood surface. Results signified inappropriate effects of linseed oil for conservation of wood in open air spaces.

Keywords

• Wood
• historical relics
• conservation
• Weathering
• Linseed oil