Effect of the thermal modification and nano-ZnO impregnation on the deterioration of Caribbean pine wood
Author
Couto da Silva, Bruno
Trevisan, Henrique
Aparecida Garcia, Rosilei
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of thermal modification and nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) particle impregnation on the deterioration of Caribbean pine wood under field conditions. Samples were thermally-modified at various temperature levels (control, 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C). Nano-ZnO impregnation was done with an aqueous solution at 1,5 % in an autoclave under two-steps of pressure and vacuum. Unmodified and thermally-modified, non-impregnated and nano-ZnO-impregnated samples were exposed to deterioration for five months in field tests. A deterioration index was used to evaluate the health condition of the samples. The mass loss and occurrence of termite tunnels in percentage were also determined. The nano-ZnO impregnation improved the resistance of unmodified wood to field-deterioration. The thermal modification at 180oC and 200ºC increased the wood deterioration and nano-ZnO impregnation did not improve their resistance. Unmodified and 220 ºC-modified samples had lower mass loss by xylophages than other thermal treatments regardless of the nanoparticle impregnation. The nano-ZnO impregnation decreases the occurrence of termite tunnels in unmodified, 200 ºC and 220 ºC-modified samples.