Surface characterization of untreated and hydro-thermally pre-treated Turkey oak woods after UV-C irradiation

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of UV-C irradiation on the Turkey oak wood surface (Quercus cerris L.). In order to compare the effect of irradiation, both untreated wood samples and those treated with steam and heat were analyzed. The steam treatments were carried out in an autoclave at 130 °C; samples were then heated in an oven for 2 h at 180 °C. The physical and chemical changes brought about in the untreated and treated wood samples by the UV-C light were monitored by colorimetry (color changes), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) (chemical composition) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (microstructure and morphology). A detailed analysis of the results indicates that the UV-C treatment caused irreversible changes in both the chemical composition and morphology of the wood samples via photooxidation and photodegradation processes. Depending on the type of pre-treatment used, these processes affected the wood samples differently.