Patination of cherry wood and spruce wood with ethanolamine and surface finishes

The appearance of age or the so-called patina of cherry wood and spruce wood was obtained by treatment with ethanolamine vapours. Chemical changes in the treated wood were investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and nitrogen content analysis. It was shown that the use of aggressive and toxic ammonia could be replaced by fuming with ethanolamine. Extensive colour stability experiments of patinated cherry wood that was coated with linseed oil varnish, linseed oil, beeswax or nitro-cellulose lacquer indicated that the described antiquing method represents a new possibility for producing various wood products with the appearance of age.