Modifying wood with sugar alcohols and polycarboxylic acids, in particular with a combination of sorbitol and citric acid (SorCA), is a promising bio-based alternative to crude oil-based modification systems (Larnoy et al. 2018, Kurkowiak et al. 2022a). The modification process consists of the impregnation with an aqueous solution of both chemicals and subsequent curing at a temperature of 140 °C. Previous studies have shown that during curing in hot air, an intensive migration of the chemicals to the wood surface occurs, resulting in unequal chemical distribution and a density gradient from the core zone towards the outer areas (Kurkowiak et al. 2022b, Treu et al. 2023). Migration of the modification chemicals towards the wood surfaces leads to a final product with a highly inhomogeneous property profile (Krause 2006). This study researched the influence of curing in commercial vegetable oil as an alternative to curing in hot air on the chemical distribution within the wood.
Keywords: sorbitol, citric acid, wood modification
Authors
Joshua Rabke
University of Goettingen, Wood Biology and Wood Products, Germany
Christoph Hötte
University of Goettingen, Wood Biology and Wood Products, Germany
Holger Militz
University of Goettingen, Wood Biology and Wood Products, Germany
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