Application of NIR for evaluation of weathered samples from RR test

Wood exposed to weathering is degraded by various environmental agents such as solar radiation, cyclic wetting, atmospheric temperature and relative humidity changes, environmental pollutants and certain micro-organisms. The rate of weathering varies within timber species, but depends most of all on the microclimatic conditions. There is a lot of research dedicated to studies on the weathering mechanisms of diverse materials. However, the comprehensive understanding and detailed models are hardly available for weathered wood surfaces. This research is a part of activities within the Round Robin test, the common initiative of the COST Action FP1006, where 28 sets of samples were exposed in 18 locations in Europe and Brazil.