Understanding Wood Surface Chemistry and Approaches to Modification: A Review

Wood was designed, after millions of years of evolution, to perform in a wet environment. Nature is programmed to recycle it, in a timely way, back to the basic building blocks of carbon dioxide and water. All recycling chemistries start with an invasion of the wood surface. The surface of wood is porous, hygroscopic, viscoelastic, and anisotropic that is better defined in interface/interphase zones. This surface is dynamic and in constant change with changing humidity, temperature, oxygen levels, ultraviolet energy, microorganisms and stress. This chapter is a review of the chemical properties of a wood surface and performance issues associated with it.