Biological durability and wood–water interactions of sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA) modified wood

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between moisture dynamics of sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA) modified wood and its biological durability. Specifically, the research aimed to determine the chemical loading needed for effective protection against wood-destroying basidiomycetes, while also improving the understanding of the moisture behavior of SorCA-modified wood. The SorCA modification process is relatively new, and thus, there is limited knowledge on its moisture behavior and its impact on biological durability. The research focused on Scots pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) and used the EN 113-2 standard to investigate its durability against wood-destroying basidiomycetes. Moisture behavior was analyzed through short-term water uptake and release tests, capillary water uptake and CEN/TS 16818. Results showed a significant reduction in liquid and water vapor uptake, likely due to a reduction in the maximum moisture capacity within the wood cell wall. The study confirmed that high chemical loadings (i.e., weight percent gain, WPG) are necessary for adequate decay protection.

Keywords

• Chemical wood modification
• Esterification
• Fungal growth
• Moisture behavior