PHOTO-DETERIORATION OF CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED WOOD SURFACES - ACETYLATEDWOOD AND ALKYLATED WOOD

Acetylation with acetic anhydride and alkylation with butylene oxide w ere applied to sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) veneers and blocks a nd the treated surfaces were evaluated for their photo-resistance usin g XPS (X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy) and colorimetry. Chemical mo dification treatments were expected to increase the weathering resista nce of wood and the durability of weathering-resistant transparent typ e of coating films. Color changes on the chemically modified wood surf aces upon exposure to UV light were less conspicuous than those of unt reated wood surfaces, but the photo-oxidation of modified wood surface s, as estimated using XPS, was similar to that of untreated wood. Chem ical modification did not increase the bonding strength or weathering resistance of transparent coating films.