Effect of Weathering Conditions on Wood Surface Roughness: Optimal Parameters Determined via Taguchi Analysis

Abstract

Wood when exposed to accelerated weathering conditions is deteriorated as a result of factors such as UV rays, temperature, and relative humidity changes. The surface roughness of wood also undergoes substantial changes. In this study, the effect of accelerated weathering conditions on surface roughness changes on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and poplar (Populus x euroamericana) wood surfaces were investigated using the Taguchi method. The parameters most affecting the surface roughness were radial direction, 0.5 W/m(2) UV, 4 h conditioning time, and 45 min water for Scots pine, and tangential direction, 0.5 W/m(2) UV, 2 h conditioning, and 15 min water for poplar wood. The variables that most affected the surface roughness were conditioning with 38% in Scots pine wood and wavelength with 31% in poplar wood.