Effects of Microwave Treatment on Alkyd-Varnished Wood Exposed to Outdoor Conditions

In this study, it was planned to investigate the effects of microwave irradiation (MW) prior to varnish applications on the pine wood samples, which are subjected to three months of outdoor exposure. The samples of 180W15s, 270W15s, 360W5s, and 360W15s showed lower water sorption properties than the control, while the rest of the samples showed higher sorption properties than the control sample. The lowest water sorption value was 12.50% (-3.85% lower than the control). It was found that post-microwave treated samples provide a 1–3 degree increases in resistance against selected cold liquids of distilled water, fruit juice, milk and coke under similar conditions. After three months of outdoor exposure of the samples, the surface scratch resistance of the samples was found to be 1 to 4 degrees softer than the control sample (HB to 3B pencil hardness properties). However, the cross-cut properties of the samples showed almost similar level of adhesion properties, mostly between 2 and 3 (control sample: 3), which was assumed to be not notable different from control, regardless of treatment conditions. It was found to have various discoloration properties of the samples which subjected to weathering procedure of post-microwave treated and alkyd-varnish aplied samples. But the larger-sized samples (A-type) have a higher and wider range for b* (yellowness) and a* (redness) values, while smaller-sized samples (a-type) showed a wider range and higher brightness (L*) properties. Moreover, A-type samples had higher total color difference values than a-types at similar treatment conditions. It is important to note that all measured samples show an ΔE >1.0 (metric) value, which means the discoloration after three months of outdoor exposure could be realizable when carefully examined by the human eye. The results clearly indicated that the post-microwave radiation before alkyd-varnish application on pine wood samples were some level influences regarding the selected properties. The resistance of selected household cold liquids and surface cross-cut properties were prominent for some samples. In spite of wide properties measured, no any clear trend was found between MW radiation and selected properties.