IMPACTS OF BLEACHING CHEMICALS AND OUTDOOR EXPOSURE ON CHANGES IN THE COLOR OF SOME VARNISHED WOODS

This study was carried out to determine the changes of the surface color of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) woods after exterior conditioning. First, the samples were bleached with 25% NaOH and 17.5% H2O2. Afterwards, they were varnished with polyurethane and synthetic varnishes, and then they were exposed to exterior conditions for 12 months. Tests for color differences and metric chroma were done according to the ASTM D-2244 standard. It was deduced that exposure to exterior conditions causes color differences in samples, while bleaching with the given solution reduces that effects, and reverts the surface color to that of the natural control specimens. However, bleached specimens exposed to 12 months exterior conditioning had more discoloration than those of natural control samples. In conclusion, if the wood materials will be exposed to outdoors after bleaching, finishing process should be applied to surfaces in order to prevent further color change