Color change and surface chemistry of nano cerium-oxide treated wood after accelerated weathering

Wood as a natural biological polymer, has significant advantages compared to other building materials. However, it has to be impregnated or surface coated since it does not have a resistant structure in outdoor conditions. In this study, Scots pine samples were treated with nano cerium oxide (CeO2) at 0.1%, 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 concentrations, and then were exposed to accelerated weathering. Color changes and surface chemistry were determined after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 and 168 hours of weathering period. Tanalith-E was used as a reference chemical at the same concentration levels. Efficiency of cerium oxide treated samples was compared with the samples treated with Tanalith-E. Thus, potential of cerium oxide instead of reference chemical in improving the surface properties of wood exposed to outdoor conditions was evaluated. As a result of the study, the surface properties of the samples treated with cerium oxide and Tanalith-E were better protected in comparison to the control samples. Initial weathering periods had greater impact on the properties. It was found that cerium oxide showed similar results to the copper-based wood preservative.