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Wood colour of central European wood species: CIELAB characterisation and colour intensification

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Abstract

In this project, 24 central European wood species have been characterized spectrophotometrically using the CIELAB-colour-system. Special focus has been put on the analysis of colour intensification of wood surfaces due to surface wetting. The analysis shows how the various wood species react to wetting and how the colour is changed. Especially darker hardwood species are susceptible to the colour intensification effect, resulting in a more intensive colour appearance. Additionally, an idealised model to describe the appearance of the wood colour is proposed: The recognized wood colour is a function of: first the reflected wavelength of the visible light, second the surface roughness and third the inner structure of the specific wood piece and the resulting refraction properties of the interacting substances. This model is supported by colour and gloss measurements of the wood species and selected coating investigations with oil and clear lacquer. Furthermore, a novel characteristic value, namely the light-reflection-depth (LRD), is introduced to describe wood properties according to light penetration. All this helps to understand how the wood colour impression is created for a standard observer. Particularly, the intensification effect can be described and explained by structural changes, which affect a change in colour. Understanding the reasons for the colour intensification supports innovative natural colour engineering of specific wood species.

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Fig. 1

Modified according to Berns and De La Rie (2004)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Competence Centre for Wood Composites and Wood Chemistry, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040, Linz, Austria

    T. Meints & C. Hansmann

  2. Department of Material Science and Process Engineering, Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials, University of Natural Resources and Life Science (BOKU), Konrad Lorenzstrasse 24, 3430, Tulln, Austria

    A. Teischinger & R. Stingl

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  1. T. Meints
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  2. A. Teischinger
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  3. R. Stingl
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  4. C. Hansmann
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Correspondence to T. Meints.

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Meints, T., Teischinger, A., Stingl, R. et al. Wood colour of central European wood species: CIELAB characterisation and colour intensification. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 75, 499–509 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-016-1108-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-016-1108-0

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