Recent Research on Linseed Oil Use in Wood Protection—A Review

Although linseed oil (LO) has been used in wood protection for centuries, research continues to develop new and more effective formulations and treatment approaches. In the future, growing interest in LO use could be expected due to its cost and environmental friendliness. This review summarizes recent research (from 2000 onwards) on the use of LO in wood protection, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and included in the online publication databases Scopus or Web of Science. The studies cover surface and impregnation treatments of various wood substrates using different LO formulations, including chemically modified LO and the use of LO as a base for the development of biofinish and as a medium for thermal modification of wood, as well as research into the mechanisms behind the changes in wood properties due to treatment methods and interaction with LO formulations. Although the improvement of wood hydrophobicity and biodurability dominates, other aspects such as weathering and color stability, adhesion, and environmental safety are included in these studies. In general, almost all of the studies show a greater or lesser potency of the proposed approaches to provide benefits in wood protection; however, the level of innovation and practical feasibility varies.