Depth profiling of weathered tropical wood using Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy

Abstract

Depth profiling analysis of wood samples using Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) was carried out to obtain information on the chemical changes caused by weathering. The test samples used for PAS measurements were tropical wood species, puspa (Schima wallichii Korth) and kapur (Dryobalanop lanceolata Burck), that were exposed outdoors for periods of 2–32 weeks. FTIR-PAS spectra of the weathered surfaces were recorded at various moving-mirror velocities in the range from 0.081 to 0.56 cm/s (linear-scan method) to provide the depth profiling analysis. The band intensity of vibrations attributed to phenyl groups clearly decreased as weathering proceeded and demonstrated a tendency to be reduced with a decrease in the photoacoustic probing depth during relatively short weathering periods. The bands of C=O groups also exhibited remarkable spectral changes. The PAS spectra of the tropical wood changed considerably during the 32 weeks of weathering, and their spectral contours gradually approached that of pure cellulose (microcrystalline). It was noted that FTIR-PAS is very useful for depth profiling analysis of the wood surface in the early stages of deterioration.