Investigation of the use of some plant species as colorant and protective in wood material

In this study, it was aimed to determine the wood material coloring and preservation activities of natural extracts obtained from different plants. The samples prepared from scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and eastern beech (Fagus orientalis L.) woods were impregnated with Rhododendron ponticum (MOG), Rhododendron luteum (SOG) and Solanum nigrum (TU) extracts at different concentration levels. Ferrous sulfate (Fe2(SO4)3.7H2O), copper sulfate (CuSO2.5H2O) and aluminum sulphate (KAl2(SO4)3.18H2O) were used as binder (mordant). Color tests according to CIEL*a*b* color coordinate system to determine the effect of prepared dyestuff solutions on color change in wood material samples; white-rot (T. versicolor) and ve brown-rot (C. puteana) fungal tests was performed to determine the effect on fungal decay resistance. According to the results of the study, plant extracts caused a change in the color values of the natural wood materials depending on the concentration ratio. Particularly in the scots pine samples treated with MOG and SOG extracts, the a* value increased significantly and the red color tendency increased in these samples. Plant extracts, on the other hand, partially increased the resistance of the samples to the white-rot fungus. This is more evident in the samples treated with the TU and MOG extracts. The mordant substances added to the plant extracts significantly affected the color values of the samples and in particular the fungal resistance. Especially, the total color change (ΔE*) was higher in the samples treated with ferrous sulphate-added extracts. In these samples, L*, a* and b* color values decreased, samples darkened and also green-blue color tendency increased. In samples treated with copper and aluminum sulphate-added extracts, ΔE* was similar or proximate to non-mordant samples. On the other hand, mordant substances added into natural extracts significantly increased the fungal decay resistance in both wood species and a weight reduction of up to 95% was achieved. Keywords: Wood material, Herbal extract, Biological resistance, Impregnation, Color change.