Wood, a natural and renewable material, is extensively utilized in furniture, construction, and outdoor landscapes due to its sustainability and esthetic appeal. However, exposure to environmental elements, particularly sunlight, leads to photodegradation, affecting wood’s chemical and physical structure. This degradation results in color fading, increased surface roughness, and reduced mechanical properties, shortening the lifespan of wooden products. Artificial accelerated photodegradation tests have become a crucial method for studying wood’s aging process under controlled laboratory conditions, mimicking prolonged exposure to sunlight. This review explores the mechanisms behind wood photodegradation, focusing on the effects of UV radiation on wood’s major components—cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives. Additionally, it summarizes the latest advancements in experimental design for artificial aging tests, including factors like radiation source selection, temperature, and humidity control. The paper also highlights performance characterization methods for evaluating the impact of photodegradation on wood’s physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Understanding these processes is essential for enhancing the durability of wood products and developing effective treatments for wood preservation in outdoor environments.

This study examines the effects of drying oils—Tung and linseed—on the properties of traditional polychrome coatings applied to wood. Samples prepared with cinnabar, malachite green, yellow ochre, and azurite pigments were analyzed using colorimetric, gloss measurements, surface roughness testing, adhesion strength, and SEM imaging. The results show that Tung oil generally enhances gloss by over 20% and provides superior adhesion, consistently achieving an adhesion grade of 0 (no peeling) across all pigments. Linseed oil, although effective at higher concentrations, displayed more variable adhesion, particularly with blue and yellow pigments. Surface roughness measurements revealed that higher oil content (6:4 ratio) reduced roughness, achieving smoother finishes with Ra values as low as 2.36 μm for Tung oil. SEM analysis confirmed that Tung oil yields a smoother and more even pigment distribution compared to the rougher, clustered morphology in linseed oil samples. These findings underscore the importance of oil type and concentration in achieving desired esthetic and durability outcomes in restoration work.

With the change in consumption environment and habits, the active feedback from users on online shopping platforms serves as a valuable source of information for analyzing user demand. Color design is an important factor in shaping product style and influencing user’s purchase decisions. This study combines the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and an interactive genetic algorithm (IGA) to investigate the usability of the interactive genetic color selection method for wardrobe color design. Firstly, the LDA model was employed to cluster online review data to identify customer requirements (CRs), then summarize the perceptual evaluation factors (EFs) of color selection. Subsequently, the color selection information from market examples was used as reference to establish the initial population, and the interactive genetic color design process was completed with CorelDraw. Then, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was employed to evaluate the color scheme generated from IGA. The empirical analysis demonstrated that the interactive genetic color selection method can effectively enhance both efficiency and satisfaction in wardrobe design. This study has substantial implications for both theory and practice in the field of wardrobe design and offers designers novel design concepts and methodologies.

With the increasing demand for environmental protection, flattened bamboo is gradually attracting attention as a sustainable material. The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the surface properties of flattened bamboo and PU self-foaming plastic by subjective and objective evaluation methods, and to explore the substitutability of flattened bamboo and PU self-foaming plastic in furniture design. Objective test methods such as surface hardness testing, gloss measurement, and friction coefficient determination were used in the experiments, and the subjective evaluation of visual and tactile perception of the materials were combined with the semantic differential method. It was found that the flattened bamboo was generally superior to the PU self-foaming plastics in terms of color, gloss, roughness, and wettability, giving a more delicate, warm and comfortable feeling, while the PU self-foaming plastics stood out in terms of personalized style. Further correlation analysis showed that surface gloss and color saturation had a significant effect on the users’ psychological feelings. This study provides a scientific basis for replacing PU self-foaming plastic with bamboo in furniture design and also provides a valuable reference for “bamboo instead of plastic” product design.

Chinese lacquer, a natural polymer with exceptional durability and cultural significance, has been widely used since the Warring States period. This review examines recent advances in lacquer identification techniques and their role in cultural heritage conservation. Drawing on five representative case studies—the B54 Japanese armor, Ba lacquerware from Lijiaba, a Qing Dynasty folding fan, Ryukyu lacquerware, and late Joseon objects—we show how integrated analytical approaches combining microscopy, spectroscopy, chromatography, and biochemical methods provide critical insights into composition, degradation, and conservation strategies. Key findings highlight (1) the effectiveness of multi-technique analysis in characterizing complex lacquer–metal interfaces and layered structures; (2) the recognition of regional and chronological variations in lacquer formulations, highlighting the need for standardized authentication protocols and shared databases; and (3) the promise of non-destructive technologies to reduce sampling and improve aging simulations. By critically synthesizing these case studies, the review highlights both methodological successes and persistent challenges, such as ethical constraints of sampling and limited understanding of long-term degradation. Ultimately, lacquer is positioned at the intersection of material science and cultural preservation, offering a transferable framework for global heritage protection. Future directions include hyperspectral imaging, bioinspired consolidants, and computational modeling to advance non-invasive diagnostics and sustainable conservation.

This study systematically investigates the influence of 3D printing parameters on the surface morphology and coating performance of polylactic acid (PLA) substrates finished with traditional Chinese lacquer. PLA specimens were fabricated using fused deposition modeling (FDM) with varying print speeds, layer heights, and infill densities, followed by natural lacquer coating and controlled curing. Surface roughness, gloss, adhesion, and wear resistance were evaluated through standardized tests, while microstructural analysis using SEM revealed the interfacial morphology and film uniformity. Results indicate that layer height is the most dominant factor, exerting significant effects on all surface and coating properties. Increasing layer height led to higher surface roughness, which in turn reduced gloss due to enhanced diffuse scattering but improved adhesion and wear resistance through stronger mechanical interlocking. Print speed showed a secondary influence on adhesion, attributed to its effect on interlayer bonding and surface porosity, while infill density exhibited minimal influence except on wear resistance. The application of Chinese lacquer significantly reduced surface irregularities owing to its excellent self-leveling and gap-filling capabilities, producing smooth, durable, and well-adhered coatings. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrating traditional lacquer with modern FDM technology provides a sustainable and high-performance finishing solution for 3D-printed PLA, bridging cultural craftsmanship with advanced additive manufacturing for potential applications in decorative, protective, and eco-friendly products.