Physical and morphological aspects of linseed oil impregnated pine (Pinus Sylvestris)

Sammanfattning: This work has investigated the possibilities of increasing wood durability using environmentally friendly chemicals. The chemical used in this study was linseed oil. The study also investigated flow paths during impregnation in pine and spruce. The first order voids of wood samples were impregnated with a low viscosity epoxi which was subsequently thermally cured. By observing the solid epoxi with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was possible to determine the critical features which limit the flow in the selected species. The take up of linseed oil was measured using an X-ray microdensitometry technique. Quantification of the impregnant (within annual rings) was made by comparing densitometric curves from the impregnated samples with curves from the same specimens after the impregnated oil had been removed. Observations of fracture surfaces in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed evidence of microstructural damage caused by the impregnation process.