Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials

Although there is a global awareness that the exploitation of non-renewable materials is unsustainable, there has been limited interest in fully utilizing natural, renewable resources like wood and its products because of the service durability concerns. One such issue is the aesthetical degradation...

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Main Authors: Percy Alao, Kevin Visnapuu, Heikko Kallakas, Triinu Poltimäe, Jaan Kers
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/642
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author Percy Alao
Kevin Visnapuu
Heikko Kallakas
Triinu Poltimäe
Jaan Kers
author_facet Percy Alao
Kevin Visnapuu
Heikko Kallakas
Triinu Poltimäe
Jaan Kers
author_sort Percy Alao
collection DOAJ
description Although there is a global awareness that the exploitation of non-renewable materials is unsustainable, there has been limited interest in fully utilizing natural, renewable resources like wood and its products because of the service durability concerns. One such issue is the aesthetical degradation of wooden facades due to the impact of weathering. This research was carried out as an international cooperation project to ascertain the weathering resistance of bio-based façade materials under the Estonian climate. In total, 120 bio-based façade materials obtained from 31 different companies, universities and research institutions from 17 countries were investigated. The specimens were placed on an exposure rack, inclined at an angle of 45° located at 59°23′50.6″ N 24°39′24.0″ E and then subjected to accelerated natural weathering for 2 years. Parameters such as precipitation, UV index, temperature and relative humidity were measured during the period of the natural weathering. The influence of the weathering on the colour change and cracks on the surface of test specimens was evaluated using Minolta Chroma Meter CR-121 (Konica Minolta INC., Tokyo, Japan) and Avongard Check Width Gauge (Avongard Ltd., Gloucestershire, UK), respectively. The results showed that the untreated natural wood façade materials presented the least resistance to weathering, while 63 of the tested materials developed checks. The outcome of this study is essential to the optimization of software-simulating changes in the appearance of façade materials in outdoor conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-6454e922f11246388d37d490abedfbe82023-11-20T02:56:46ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-06-0111664210.3390/f11060642Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade MaterialsPercy Alao0Kevin Visnapuu1Heikko Kallakas2Triinu Poltimäe3Jaan Kers4Laboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaLaboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaLaboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaLaboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaLaboratory of Wood Technology, Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaAlthough there is a global awareness that the exploitation of non-renewable materials is unsustainable, there has been limited interest in fully utilizing natural, renewable resources like wood and its products because of the service durability concerns. One such issue is the aesthetical degradation of wooden facades due to the impact of weathering. This research was carried out as an international cooperation project to ascertain the weathering resistance of bio-based façade materials under the Estonian climate. In total, 120 bio-based façade materials obtained from 31 different companies, universities and research institutions from 17 countries were investigated. The specimens were placed on an exposure rack, inclined at an angle of 45° located at 59°23′50.6″ N 24°39′24.0″ E and then subjected to accelerated natural weathering for 2 years. Parameters such as precipitation, UV index, temperature and relative humidity were measured during the period of the natural weathering. The influence of the weathering on the colour change and cracks on the surface of test specimens was evaluated using Minolta Chroma Meter CR-121 (Konica Minolta INC., Tokyo, Japan) and Avongard Check Width Gauge (Avongard Ltd., Gloucestershire, UK), respectively. The results showed that the untreated natural wood façade materials presented the least resistance to weathering, while 63 of the tested materials developed checks. The outcome of this study is essential to the optimization of software-simulating changes in the appearance of façade materials in outdoor conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/642natural weatheringbio-based materialswoodcolour changechecks
spellingShingle Percy Alao
Kevin Visnapuu
Heikko Kallakas
Triinu Poltimäe
Jaan Kers
Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
Forests
natural weathering
bio-based materials
wood
colour change
checks
title Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
title_full Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
title_fullStr Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
title_full_unstemmed Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
title_short Natural Weathering of Bio-Based Façade Materials
title_sort natural weathering of bio based facade materials
topic natural weathering
bio-based materials
wood
colour change
checks
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/642
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AT heikkokallakas naturalweatheringofbiobasedfacadematerials
AT triinupoltimae naturalweatheringofbiobasedfacadematerials
AT jaankers naturalweatheringofbiobasedfacadematerials