Resistance to weathering and color stability of thermally modified eucalypts wood for deck

When considering the diversity of tropical woods present in Brazil, used commercially, few are used for the production of floors, especially for decks. As a result of the disorderly exploitation of native tropical species, wood from reforestation, especially those of the Eucalyptus genus, have been used in order to meet demand. However, some properties of these woods need to be improved, such as the dimensional and color stability of wood when exposed to environmental conditions. Therefore, heat treatments are suggested, which can add qualities in order to serve the market. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of accelerated weathering in thermally modified Eucalyptus clone woods for decking (with and without stain application), in order to improve the technological properties of wood, to add value to products and to expand its use. To this end, wood from 14-year-old eucalypts hybrid clones was used to meet the production of deck. For this purpose, three clones (A, C and E) were used, two wood heat treatment temperatures (185 and 200 °C) and compared to the control. Since, the thermally modified wood becomes dark, which can be seen as a commercially attractive feature to produce floors. Eucalypts wood is not used to produce flooring, especially decks, and this could increase the use of this wood in the market. Therefore, the measurement of color and accelerated weathering were performed on samples with and without stain application, in three moments, these being, before weathering, after 168 h of weathering (seven days of exposure) and after 336 h (fourteen days of exposure). Finished woods were more resistant to accelerated weathering, in which heat treatment at 185 °C, for wood from eucalypts clones and clone A, promoted better changes in resistance to accelerated weathering and color uniformity, allowing its use in low circulation floors, such as decks.