Water sorption in coated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) logs and influence of incipient decay

Scots pine log specimens were given three different surface treatments and two different orientations of large cracks, and subjected to cyclic wetting and drying. Individual fitting of a mechanistic growth model was used to study the shape of absorption and accumulation curves and the final drying curve. Two parameters from this model (increase/decrease rate and maximum/minimum weight gain) were used for statistical analysis. The results indicate that wood tar results in less accumulated moisture over time than solvent-borne or water-borne coating or no treatment at all. An incipient attack by a white-rot fungus on parts of the material during storage affected water uptake greatly, often overriding surface treatment.