Effect of dilute acid on the accelerated weathering of wood
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) specimens were soaked in acid solutions to determine the effect of acid conditions (such as low pH fog) on the weathering of wood. Daily 1-hour soaking in dilute sulfurous, sulfuric, or nitric acid (pH 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, or 4.0) increased the rate of accelerated (xenon arc) weathering of the specimens compared to controls soaked in distilled/deionized water. Weathering was manifested as the erosion rate of the wood surface and was determined gravimetrically be fitting the weight loss over time to a linear model. This method detected significant differences between acid-treated specimens and untreated controls within 300 hours of accelerated weathering. The erosion rate was dependent on the acid type and pH. Sulfurous acid treatment caused the fastest rate of erosion, followed by sulfuric then nitric acid. None of the acids affected the erosion rate at pH 3.5 or above. Below this threshold, the rate of erosion increased as the hydrogen ion concentration increased. Sugar analysis of residues from the acids and the distilled water used to soak the wood indicated acid-dependent degradation of polysaccharides.
- Research Organization:
- Dept. of Agriculture, Madison, WI (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6770588
- Journal Information:
- J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 38:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
NITRIC ACID
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
SULFURIC ACID
SULFUROUS ACID
WOOD
WEATHERING
ACID RAIN
EROSION
PH VALUE
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
RAIN
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
360604 - Materials- Corrosion
Erosion
& Degradation