Biological Durability of Acetylated Hornbeam Wood with Soil Contact in Hungary

Abstract

This test aimed to discover if industrially acetylated hornbeam can tolerate real-field conditions in Hungary, where various microorganisms can attack the wood separately or cooperatively. Untreated samples accompanied the modified wood to assess the degradation capacity of the soil. The test also focused on weather parameters, the Scheffer index, and soil properties. The untreated stakes showed insect damage, soft rot decay, white rot decay, wasp stripping, moss, and cracks. All of the beech and hornbeam stakes broke after 3.5 years, and the last Scots pine sapwood stakes broke after 6 years. To date, acetylated hornbeam exhibits stronger resistance than untreated hornbeam, beech, and Scots pine sapwood. The acetylated hornbeam stakes showed no decay after 6 years of exposure, and they became dry shortly after being taken from the soil. Acetylated hornbeam stake number 7 had superficial brown rot decay after 18 months, which gradually worsened over the years. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that this stake had lower acetyl content. It was associated with hornbeam wood; it had a wet pocket or a part that was not as permeable and achieved a lower grade of acetylation.