Testing common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) acetylated with the Accoya method under industrial conditions

Abstract

(1) Hornbeam wood is known for its high density, hardness, toughness, and wear resistance, but due to its low durability (Class 5 according to EN 350), limited wood quality, and rather small sawmill yield, it is mainly utilized as firewood today. The potential for hornbeam to be used as solid, high-quality wood material exists if its durability and dimensional stability can be increased. Hornbeam boards were acetylated under industrial conditions and tests were carried out to evaluate the treatability of this wood species by acetylation. In this study, the examination of physical, mechanical, and durability properties of acetylated hornbeam wood are described and compared to untreated hornbeam and to acetylated beech, which has a similar anatomical structure to hornbeam. Acetylated hornbeam was also compared to acetylated radiata pine, which is the main product of Accsys Technologies. These comparisons include the determination of the equilibrium moisture content, density, dimensional stability, accelerated checking, color change, water uptake, decay resistance, compression strength, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), impact bending strength, Janka hardness, Brinell hardness, and impact bending strength. The aim of this project is the creation of a new product thereby widening the usage of this species.

Photostability of Oil-Coated and Stain-Coated Acetylated Hornbeam Wood against Natural Weather and Artificial Aging

“…Acetylated hornbeam takes up less moisture, which indicates lower uptake of waterborne coatings. After 49 days, the maximum water uptake of hornbeam was 5513 g/m 2 , which decreased to 4559 g/m 2 after acetylation [56].…”

“…The average density of hornbeam and acetylated hornbeam were 745 ± 42 kg/m 3 and 795 ± 55 kg/m 3 , respectively. Acetylation was carried out the same way as in previous work [56].…”

Enhancing Weathering Resistance of Wood—A Review

“…Mitsui [ 175 ] reported that the photobleaching of acetylated wood by light irradiation, including UV ray, was caused by mainly visible light without modifying the IR spectra of lignin. Acetylated hornbeam wood ( Carpinus betulus L.) was reported to be less prone to crack during natural weathering and the accelerating checking test [ 151 ], but the modification did not hinder the fading and greying caused by UV light [ 176 ].…”

Biological Durability of Acetylated Hornbeam Wood with Soil Contact in Hungary

“…Only a few research papers have focused on the acetylation of hornbeam to increase its durability. In a previous laboratory test [28], hornbeam and acetylated hornbeam were exposed to three different fungal cultures according to EN 113: 1996. Hornbeam had DC 4 against Rhodonia (Poria) placenta, DC 4-5 against Coniophora puteana, and DC 5 against Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor, while acetylated hornbeam's weight loss was below 1%, which makes it DC 1 against all three fungi according to EN 350: 2016.…”