Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained in various construction materials and interior equipment. Their higher concentrations in the indoor air are associated with negative effects on human health and are disputed in terms of health risk, since people spend a considerable part of their lifetime indoors. Therefore, the presence of VOCs in indoor air is a case of concern regarding sick building syndrome (SBS). From a historical point of view, wood and wood-based panels represent a widely used material. Nevertheless, wood appears to be nowadays a product and a material of a sustainable future. Depending on wood extractives’ composition and an abundance of diverse wood species, different profiles of volatiles are emitted. In case of wood-based panels, the impact of adhesives and additives that are essentially applied aiming to adjust the panels’ properties is even enriching this cocktail of chemicals. This paper comprises the issue of VOCs emitted from wood and wood-based panels. The most abundant VOCs were summarized. The options of VOCs for analytical determination from these matrixes are described with their benefits and limitations.

As a result of contemporary ecological and sustainable movements, a number of constructions from wood, as the only renewable building material, is still increasing. In accordance with these trends, wood elements are often left untreated. The presented study is aimed to characterize and compare a surface degradation of untreated wood caused by weathering. Weathering characteristics of softwoods and hardwoods (spruce, pine, Douglas fir, larch, oak, black locust, maple, poplar and alder) during twelve months of exposure in the climatic conditions of Central Europe were determined. All the wood species were characterized by colour and gloss changes and increasing roughness. The lowest discoloration was observed for oak and the highest one for spruce wood, respectively. The lowest changes of roughness were observed for alder, the highest for spruce wood. The depth of colour changes was relatively similar among the softwoods. Regarding hardwoods, it varied more. The values of total colour changes had a significant correlation with the depth values of these colour changes. Maple, alder and poplar samples were characterized by the presence of mould and blue-stain fungi. Douglas fir wood was found to be the most liable for the formation of cracks.

The durability of transparent coatings applied to an oak wood exterior is relatively low due to its anatomic structure and chemical composition. Enhancement of the protection of oak wood against weathering using transparent hydrophobic coatings is presented in this study. Oak wood surfaces were modified using UV-stabilizers, hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS), and ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles before the application of a commercial hydrophobic topcoat. A transparent oil-based coating was used as a control coating system. The artificial weathering test lasted 6 weeks and colour, gloss, and contact angle changes were regularly evaluated during this period. The changes in the microscopic structure were studied with confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results proved limited durability against weathering of both tested hydrophobic coatings. The formation of micro-cracks causing the leaching of degraded wood compounds and discolouration of oak wood were observed after 1 or 3 weeks of the weathering test. Until then, an oil-based coating film had protected the wood sufficiently, but after 6 weeks the wood was fully defoliated to its non-homogenous thickness, which was caused by the presence of large oak vessels, and by the effects of specific oak tannins. Using transparent hydrophobic coatings can prolong the service life of the exteriors of wood products by decreasing their moisture content. Without proper construction protection against rainwater, the hydrophobic coating itself cannot guarantee the preservation of the natural appearance of wood exteriors.

A top hydrophobic layer can increase the durability of exterior coatings applied on wood. Two hydrophobic topcoats - synthetics and waterborne acrylate resin with wax additives, were tested as top layers on twenty-four different coating systems applied on oak wood in this experiment. Artificial accelerated weathering lasted for six weeks. Changes of color, gloss, surface wetting were evaluated, and microscopic analyses of coated surfaces were done during weathering. The results have shown that a top hydrophobic layer increases the durability of tested coating systems in most cases. However, the effectiveness of the two tested hydrophobic topcoats turned out to be different depending on the specific coating systems used.

The study is focused on the surface changes of five hardwoods (oak, black locust, poplar, alder and maple) that were exposed to natural weathering for 24 months in the climatic conditions of Central Europe. Colour, roughness, visual and chemical changes of exposed surface structures were examined. The lowest total colour changes (ΔE*) were found for oak (23.77), the highest being recorded for maple (34.19). Roughness differences after 24-month exposure (ΔR_a) showed minimal changes in poplar wood (9.41); the highest changes in roughness were found on the surface of alder (22.18). The presence of mould and blue stains was found on the surface of maple, alder and poplar. Chemical changes were characterized by lignin and hemicelluloses degradation. Decreases of both methoxy and carbonyl groups, cleavage of bonds in lignin and hemicelluloses, oxidation reaction and formation of new chromophores were observed. In the initial phases of the degradation process, the discoloration was related to chemical changes; in the longer period, the greying due to settling of dust particles and action of mould influenced the wood colour. The data were confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The obtained results revealed degradation processes of tested hardwood surfaces exposed to external environmental factors.

The effect of the initial modification of beech and spruce wood using a solution of caffeine and of a commercial product FN-NANO^® FN-1 containing a water dispersion of TiO₂ nanoparticles for increasing the service life of a transparent oil and acrylate coatings during 6 weeks of artificial accelerated weathering was tested. Changes in colour, gloss, and the contact angle of water were monitored. Degradation of the coating film was also evaluated visually and microscopically. The resistance of the coatings to mould growth was also subsequently tested. Based on the results, it is possible to recommend the initial treatment of spruce and beech wood with a 2% caffeine solution or 15% solution of FN-NANO^® dispersion to increase the overall life of a transparent acrylic coating in exterior applications. No positive effect of the applied treatments was observed with the oil coating. In addition, lower concentrations of FN-NANO^® did not have a sufficient effect, and the synergistic effect of using FN-NANO^® in a mixture with a 1% caffeine solution was also not confirmed.