Abstract
Gamma irradiation, which is an easy, fast and effective method for
wood sterilisation, changes molecular structures not only in pest
cells, but also in wood cell walls. Radiation-induced depolymerisation
causes significant changes in some properties of wood crucial for
restoration and for laboratory testing of wood-preservative effectiveness,
as demonstrated by experimental data. The influence of gamma radiation
on maximum swelling (alpha(MAX) resistance to impact milling (RIM),
and the total amount of water-soluble carbohydrates (TSC) was investigated.
Cobalt Co-60) was used as a gamma source and Scots pine wood (Pinus
sylvestris L.) was irradiated at doses of 30, 90 and 150 kGy. A strong
linear correlation was found between TSC and radiation dosage. Leached
irradiated specimens showed significantly greater TSC content than
non-irradiated controls. RIM decreased significantly and linearly
with increasing radiation dosage. After leaching, the linearity between
these parameters improved. Gamma radiation had no significant effect
on alpha(MAX) and the time elapsed after irradiation did not influence
alpha(MAX), RIM or TSC.
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