Impact of iron(II) and oxygen on degradation of oak - modeling of the Vasa wood

• In the wood of the Swedish 17th century warship Vasa, iron (Fe)-catalyzed chemical degradation has taken place after the salvation in 1961, which is manifested in increased acidity accompanied by cellulose degradation and reduced strength in the oak hull. Model studies on fresh oak impregnated with Fe(II) also led to tensile strength (TS) reduction in the same order of magnitude as observed in the wood of the Vasa. In the present study, further experiments have been performed concerning the Fe-catalyzed wood degradation. Namely, the degree of wood degradation was monitored quantitatively by measurement of the O-2 consumption of Fe(II)-impregnated oak, kept in closed vials with different relative humidities (RH), as a function of time. The initial O-2 consumption was high and declined with time. After 200 days, the accumulated O-2 consumption was 0.3-0.4 mmol g(-1) wood. Degradation products with low molecular weight were analyzed. The release of CO2 and oxalic acid (OA) was positively correlated with RH (0.235 and 0.044 mmol g(-1), respectively, at RH98% after 200 days). Samples kept for 1500 days at RH54% had accumulated 0.044 mmol OA g(-1) wood, which is equal to the average OA content in the interior of Vasa oak (corresponding to 4 mg g(-1)). Oak samples, from which extractives had been removed prior to Fe(II) impregnation, did not change their O-2 consumption or TS reduction compared to the nonextracted samples, indicating that extractives are not essential for cellulose degradation in this context.

Subject headings

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Annan kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Other Chemistry Topics (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Trävetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Wood Science (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Teknisk mekanik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Applied Mechanics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

degradation

iron compounds

oxalic acid

oxygen consumption

polyethylene glycol

Vasa

waterlogged wood

Engineering science with specialization in Applied Mechanics

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot tillämpad mekanik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)