Moisture content (MC) and multinuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of water absorption effect on wood treated with aminofunctional silane

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine susceptibility of aminoethyl aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMOS)-treated wood to absorption of liquid water. Absorbability was analysed by measuring absolute moisture content of wood and by MRI. These analyses were based on the results of previous studies on resistance against decay fungi in case of wood treated with the same chemical compound. In their previous studies the authors found that AEAPTMOS exhibits enhanced hydrophobic properties and thus increased resistance to the action of specific abiotic and biotic factors. The advantageous fungicidal properties of wood treatment systems indicate that AEAPTMOS may be considered as an environmentally friendly solution, being an alternative to conventional biocidal agents. Results indicate that this method may be used in laboratory analyses assessing the relative amount of water uptake through the wood surface. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.