The ageing of materials is an irreversible, in-time occurring complex phenomenon, which affects both wood surfaces and the coating materials. This paper focuses on the light-induced natural ageing of wood-coated surfaces in indoor conditions. Two wood species: European maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and European walnut (Juglans regia) and two types of waxes: bees wax and Chinese wax were employed in the experiments presented in this paper. Uncoated and coated wood samples were exposed to the natural sunlight filtered by window glass in a simulated indoors natural ageing test for a total period of 7 years. Colour measurements in the CIE-Lab system and FTIR-ATR investigation were employed to evaluate the ageing phenomena. The uncoated wooden samples underwent progressive colour changes perceived as darkening for European maple and lightening for European walnut, corresponding to total colour differences values (ΔE) after 7 years of exposure of 12.54 and 11.66, respectively. Coating of wood samples with the two types of waxes differently influenced the total colour changes for the two wood species: reduced colour changes corresponding to ΔE values of 4.79–6.44 were determined for European maple, whilst increased colour changes corresponding to ΔE values of 13.80–20.83 were determined for European walnut. FTIR analysis highlighted different surface chemistry changes for the uncoated and wax-coated wood samples.

Stabilising the natural colour of wood species exposed to light in indoor conditions is a challenge that could be better addressed based on a deeper understanding of the occurring phenomena and influencing factors. This paper investigates comparatively the light-induced colour changes for three hardwood species, namely, European maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and European walnut (Juglans regia L.), as well as the influence of finishing with three types of clear, colourless waterborne lacquers: acrylic-polyurethane (F1), acrylic (F2) and polyurethane (F3) on their colour stability. Colour measurements in the CIELab system in conjunction with an artificial accelerated ageing test under the action of UV-VIS radiation, simulating natural light passing through window glass, and two types of test samples were employed to highlight the influence and contributions of the wood substrate and of the coating films to the global colour modifications. Coating films applied on 1 mm clear glass slides were employed as a sort of “detachable” finish for this purpose. Direct exposure to UV-VIS light caused visible colour changes for both uncoated and coated wood surfaces, the values of the calculated colour differences (ΔE) after a 72 h exposure being dependant on both the wood species and the coating material. Excepting two situations for walnut, statistically significantly higher colour differences were obtained for the uncoated samples: maple (9.36 units), ash (8.39 units), walnut (6.20 units), compared to the coated ones: maple (4.92–5.71 units), ash (2.25–3.94 units), walnut (4.74–7.70 units). The wood substrates underlying the coating films were found to bring the maximum contribution to the overall colour changes in the clear coated surfaces, while the coating films employed in this research demonstrated a fairly good colour stability to UV-VIS light exposure, with maximum colour changes (∆E) up to only 1.30 units. Overall, the wood species and the type of coating were found as influencing factors in interaction with the light-induced colour changes in wood surfaces in indoor conditions.

The paper presents an original laboratory method developed to determine and compare the light-induced colour changes of uncoated and coated wood surfaces, while also allowing the highlighting and evaluation of the individual contributions of the substrate and coating film to the global effect. Two types of wood test samples: V1 (uncoated) and V2 (coated) and coating films on 1mm thick clear glass slides were employed. The behaviour of the wood substrate under the coating film was simulated on uncoated substrate covered with a coated glass slide. European maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) and two types of transparent water-based varnishes with 2k formulations were used. The samples were exposed for up to 72 hours to artificial UV-VIS light in accelerated tests simulating natural light passing through window glass. Colour changes were measured in the CIELab system, as well as the chemical changes of the wood substrate and the coating films by FTIR analysis. Exposure of uncoated maple wood resulted in a total colour difference (E) of 10.83 units and this was only slightly reduced by coating (9.29-9.81 units). Exposure through the glass slide reduced the colour changes of the uncoated and coated wood surfaces by 37-43%. Colour changes of 5.79-6.85 units were measured on the wood substrate exposed under coated glass slides, whilst the colour changes of the coating films on glass slides were only 0.64-1.0 units, which indicates a maximum contribution of the wood substrate to the light-induced colour changes of the coated surfaces. FTIR investigation confirmed this finding.