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Conference paper - Peer-reviewed, 2018

Natural Weathering and Photostability of Wood Modified by Fatty Acid Esters

Jebrane, Mohamed; Terziev, Nasko; Heinemaa, Ivo

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acid vinyl ester was synthesized via a transition-metal catalyzed transvinylation reaction between vinyl acetate and fatty acids from Tung oil. The ensuing fatty acid vinyl ester (vinyl α-eleostearate) was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectral analyses and used as reactive reagent for modification of wood veneers. The covalent grafting of polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties onto the wood was achieved through transesterification reaction between wood hydroxyl groups and fatty acid vinyl ester. The transesterification reaction was confirmed by FTIR, 13C CP MAS NMR spectroscopy and the level of modification was estimated by determining the weight percentage gain (WPG). The photostability of modified wood veneers was evaluated by exposing wood veneers to natural weathering in Uppsala (Sweden) during April-May 2018. Upon 5 weeks of exposure to natural weathering, unmodified wood showed quick color changes and degradation of lignin, while modification of wood vinyl α-eleostearate was very effective in suppressing light-induced color changes at wood surfaces.

Keywords

α-eleostearic acid, chemical modification, fatty acid, photostability, vinyl ester, weathering, wood

Published in

Title: Proceedings of the 9th European Conference on Wood Modification 2018, Arnhem, The Netherlands
Publisher: Practicum

Conference

9th European Conference on Wood Modification ECWM9, September 17 and 18, 2018, Arnhem, The Netherlands