We are testing the possibilities of wood protection using titanium dioxide

News, 30/03/2020

Experts from the University Center for Energy-Efficient Buildings of CTU investigate the effect of titanium dioxide on the surface of wood. The obtained data will be used to create a new method for assessing the effect of photoactive materials on wood.

In the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis of the Czech Technical University UCEEB, tests of the effect of the TiO2 layer are underway. applied to the surface of the wood. At the micro and nano level, the interaction is detected using a high-resolution scanning electron microscope (High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy - HRSEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). We use Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to study changes at the molecular level. With the help of FTIR, it is possible to investigate changes in the bonds of polymers that make up wood matter, i.e. lignin and polysaccharides.

We compare samples with a layer of TiO2 subjected to accelerated aging and outdoor exposure with specimens without external influences. Impact of application of TiO2 will be explored further.

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Undegraded cells, magnification 1500x

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Samples treated with TiO2, cells degraded by UV radiation, white surfaces TiO2, magnification 5000x.