Preservation and improvement of wood

Specific Foundation

Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation

The course is also offered to exchange programme students.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will know: • on the ways of preserving and protecting wood and wooden constructions and the factors from which they are at risk (biotic and abiotic factors). • the methods of impregnation and the impregnating substances used (categories, types, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, etc.), • the interaction relationships of the wood (chemical composition, anatomical characteristics, etc.) with the impregnating substances, • the way of choosing impregnation methods, the preparation of the wood for the impregnation process, • the ways of protection through thermal, chemical, mechanical modification of the wood mass. • the mode of operation, the rules to be applied, the required facilities and equipment of the impregnation units. • for the application of flame retardants and the evaluation of the effectiveness of all maintenance methods.

Natural durability of wood, factors affecting the natural durability of different wood species, factors that deteriorate wood and its products, biological threats to wood in service (bacteria, fungi, wood-boring insects, marine wood-boring microorganisms), and abiotic factors that degrade it. Importance and impact of anatomical characteristics, permeability, hydrophobicity and chemical composition of wood on the application of protective treatments, modifications and impregnation and/or other protection methods and degree of protection. Relationships between wood and fluids (movement of fluids during the process of drying, evaporation, impregnation, improvement treatments, modification, etc.). Wood improvement and preservation technologies of wood and wood-products, methods and characteristics of protective impregnation (types of protective and improving substances, limitations and their evolution over time, methods of thermal and chemical technologies involved, criteria for selecting a protection/maintenance method, means, facilities, technical conditions, operating rules of industrial units). Wood improvement technologies - Wood modification (thermal, chemical, hydro/thermal, thermo/mechanical, hydro/thermo/mechanical, thermo/mechanical in combination with impregnation, surface modification, etc.) with the aim of improving its properties, eliminating its disadvantages, increasing its service-lifespan. Characteristics, modification conditions, factors that affect the efficacy of each method, prospects and limitations. Infestated wood disinfection and preservation (thermal treatments, phosphine etc.). Safety and health and environmental protection measures when applying protective substances to wood, consequences of impregnation/modification on the properties and uses of wood. Trends in the development of impregnation substances, applied technologies and preservation methods. Disinfection of wood and wooden structures, preservation of infestated/degraded wood, fumigation, etc. Certification of impregnated wood / protected / modified wood, assessment of the effectiveness of the preservation method, testing of properties of modified wood samples (testing of biological resistance, dimensional stability, fire resistance, etc.). Fire protection of wood/wooden structures and ways to improve its dimensional stability. Protection/preservation of wood of cultural heritage monuments, preservation and conservation of water-saturated archaeological wood.

weathering, steaming, impregnation, wood, durability, decay, preservation, protection, improvement, modification, treatment

29-06-2025