TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of the drying method on the cell wall structure and sorption properties of waterlogged archaeological wood

AU - Broda, Magdalena

AU - Curling, Simon

AU - Frankowski, Marcin

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - Drying is a process affecting various wood properties, including its structure, moisture behaviour and mechanical properties. Since waterlogged wooden artefacts usually constitute priceless objects of cultural heritage, understanding the effect of drying on the complex interactions between the wood ultrastructure and the resulting properties is necessary to ensure their proper conservation. Hence, this was the aim of the present study, with a particular emphasis on the influence of drying conditions on the relations between the cell wall structure, dimensional stability and hygroscopicity of degraded archaeological wood. The choice of the particular drying methods was dictated by their final effect on wood appearance (dimensions). The results obtained clearly show that depending on the drying method applied, the resulting material differs significantly in structure, dimensions and sorption properties, despite the same degree of wood degradation. Air- and oven-drying resulted in the highest wood shrinkage, lower porosity, and a decreased number of free hydroxyls in the wood cell wall. The best wood dimensional stabilisation and the highest porosity were ensured by freeze- and supercritical drying. No correlations were found between wood structure and moisture behaviour. The outcome of the research may be useful for conservators who plan to provide the artefacts with proper storage conditions and effective conservation/reconservation.

AB - Drying is a process affecting various wood properties, including its structure, moisture behaviour and mechanical properties. Since waterlogged wooden artefacts usually constitute priceless objects of cultural heritage, understanding the effect of drying on the complex interactions between the wood ultrastructure and the resulting properties is necessary to ensure their proper conservation. Hence, this was the aim of the present study, with a particular emphasis on the influence of drying conditions on the relations between the cell wall structure, dimensional stability and hygroscopicity of degraded archaeological wood. The choice of the particular drying methods was dictated by their final effect on wood appearance (dimensions). The results obtained clearly show that depending on the drying method applied, the resulting material differs significantly in structure, dimensions and sorption properties, despite the same degree of wood degradation. Air- and oven-drying resulted in the highest wood shrinkage, lower porosity, and a decreased number of free hydroxyls in the wood cell wall. The best wood dimensional stabilisation and the highest porosity were ensured by freeze- and supercritical drying. No correlations were found between wood structure and moisture behaviour. The outcome of the research may be useful for conservators who plan to provide the artefacts with proper storage conditions and effective conservation/reconservation.

KW - Wood

KW - Timber

KW - Drying

KW - Archeological

U2 - 10.1007/s00226-021-01294-6

DO - 10.1007/s00226-021-01294-6

M3 - Article

VL - 55

SP - 971

EP - 989

JO - Wood Science and Technology

JF - Wood Science and Technology

SN - 0043-7719

IS - 4

ER -