THE EFFECT OF TITANIUM DIOXIDE NANOPARTICLES OBTAINED BY MICROWAVE-ASSISTED HYDROTHERMAL METHOD ON THE COLOR AND DECAY RESISTANCE OF PINEWOOD

This study aimed to synthesize titanium dioxide nanoparticles by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to incorporate them to the structure of Pinus elliottii wood. The color changes and the decay resistance of impregnated wood was investigated. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles were impregnated into Pinus elliottii wood by vacuum-pressure and simple immersion methods. Furthermore, Pinus elliottii wood was treated with chromated copper borate solution tocompare their effectiveness to the titanium dioxide treated wood. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles impregnated by vacuum-pressure were presented especially on the wood surface, forming a homogeneous coating. The titanium dioxide nanoparticles did not change the natural color of wood and, at the same time, decreased the degree of the white rot fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) colonization in the wood structure and the wood decay, compared to the untreated one. The titanium dioxide treated wood samples provided similar protection against decay in comparison to wood treated with chromated copper borate. The impegnation with titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be a good alternative to decrease/avoid the fungi proliferation, providing to Pinus elliottii wood a self-cleaning mechanism.