Physicochemical monitoring of wood coating degradation related to fungal disfigurement

Analytical methods for the assessment of coating degradation are numerous. While providing data concerning the physicochemical condition of the sample during weathering, it is worth investigating the relation with fungal disfigurement in laboratory experiments. Coated wooden samples were subjected to artificial ageing for 2000 h while their behaviour was monitored with infrared spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, water uptake determination and contact angle measurements. Data analysis comprised extraction of quantitative values from IR series, UV absorption calculation, straightforward mathematical operations for glass transition determination, water uptake coefficient calculations and drop shape analysis of water droplets. Unweathered and weathered samples were also subjected to fungal attack in a laboratory set-up based on the principles of the EN 152 test procedure. Linking degradation data with biological susceptibility provides a better insight in property related biological damage.