Specifying acetylated wood for entry doors

by Elaina Adams | May 1, 2012 1:58 pm

All photos courtesy Accsys Technologies[1]
All photos courtesy Accsys Technologies

By Lisa Ayala
Given the option, many people gravitate toward wood for entry doors to homes or even light commercial projects. With its rich feel, authentic look, and durability, wood is a timeless, natural choice for optimal curb appeal.

Adding to the list of entry door options is acetylated wood, a high-technology product that undergoes a proprietary, non-toxic modification process to create a more durable and dimensionally stable solid wood product while still retaining natural beauty.

Though only recently made commercially available, acetylation has been studied for more than 75 years. In short, the acetylation process modifies wood at its molecular level by increasing the natural compounds already found there—in other words, nothing is added to the wood that is not naturally present.

More specifically, acetylation targets ‘free hydroxyls,’ an abundance of chemical groups contained within the wood. Free hydroxyl groups readily absorb and release water according to changes in the climatic conditions to which the wood is exposed; this is the main reason why wood swells and shrinks.

The acetylation process alters the wood’s reaction with water by permanently replacing free hydroxyls—the part that absorb moisture—with stable acetyl groups that will not bond with water. Acetyl groups are naturally present in the wood; the acetylation process just increases their level. With a high level of acetyl molecules, the wood does not respond to moisture like regular wood does, improving the shrink/swell cycle by 70 per cent or more. The non-toxic modification also results in a product that is unrecognizable as a food source, proven to be an effective barrier to rot, decay, and insect attack.

The process modifies the wood to its core. Therefore, unlike pressure-treated wood, it can be cut or profiled without exposing unprotected surfaces. Further, since acetylation is non-reversible, there is no risk of leaching or loss.

Due to these characteristics, acetylated wood is appropriate for numerous exterior applications beyond doors, including:

Acetylated wood doors, like the unit shown here, undergo a proprietary nontoxic modification process that improves the shrink/swell cycle by 70 per cent or more, resulting in a product that is proven to be an effective barrier to rot, decay, and insect attack.[2]
Acetylated wood doors, like the unit shown here, undergo a proprietary nontoxic modification process that improves the shrink/swell cycle by 70 per cent or more, resulting in a product that is proven to be an effective barrier to rot, decay, and insect attack.

Advantages in durability
In Europe, acetylated wood carries a Class 1 durability under EN 113:1997, Wood Preservatives: Test Method for Determining the Protective Effectiveness Against Wood-destroying Basidiomycetes—this is the highest rating available and is comparable to the best tropical hardwoods. In fact, a recent durability test in New Zealand showed the wood product to be more durable than even old-growth teak. Acetylated wood acts as an effective barrier against a broad spectrum of fungi, including cellar, wet rot, dry rot, soft rot, white, brown, and pore fungi. It is verified by American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) E10, Standard Method of Testing Wood Preservatives by Laboratory Soil-block Cultures. Additionally, the material is indigestible to a wide range of pests, including termites. The wood carries a Class C fire rating—under ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials—and can be treated to meet higher requirements.

The durability and, particularly, stability provide a much more stable substrate for wood coatings. Numerous outdoor and accelerated coating tests demonstrate wood coatings last significantly longer on acetylated wood—film-forming opaque coatings, for example, have been found to last up to three times longer. Therefore, maintenance is dramatically reduced.

Acetylated wood for entry doors
Wooden entry doors are prone to moisture problems, particularly at joints and at the bottom along the weatherstripping. Many doors can swell and warp over time, causing them to stick when closed. This problem with most wood products requires joinery companies to revisit projects to re-hang or trim doors on one or more occasions. Therefore, with its dimensional stability and long-term durability, acetylated wood is a suitable option for fabrication of entry doors to help reduce the likelihood of these problems.

Grades[3]In addition to doors, acetylated wood is being used for frames and trim. To control costs, some door frame producers include acetylated wood just at the bottom of the frame, where the wood is most vulnerable to rot and decay.

Overall, installation of doors made with acetylated wood is the same; however, it is important to pay attention to a few key areas. First, despite its increased dimensional stability, changes in humidity can cause small changes in the material’s volume. Standard tolerances taken into account during product design and installation for regular wood should be followed.

Another consideration with door installation is hardware and the risk of corrosion—acetylated products and other very durable woods contain low levels of acetic acid, which can cause corrosion to hardware. Stainless steel Type 304 or 316 hardware is recommended. Brass is also an option, but may still experience some discolouration over time. Zinc-plated or galvanized steel hardware should be avoided. If stainless steel fixtures are not available and coated fixtures must be used, they should be designed for outdoor use. Pre-drilling is advised.

The wood should be coated at hardware points to provide a barrier; for added temporary protection, a water-repellant spray (such as silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]) can be applied to metal hardware. In enclosed areas such as the lock rebate, an epoxy coating is recommended to provide protection to locking mechanisms.

Grades-pt2[4]Machining methodology
Acetylated wood will machine easier than regular wood, producing a very flat surface and improved profile definition. It requires no special tools for cross-cutting, ripping, planing, routing, or drilling.

The material is produced from rough lumber and may have brown discolouration and sticker marks in the first few millimetres from the surface. To achieve a uniform appearance, it may be necessary to plane off several millimetres for stain-grade applications.

When planed properly, acetylated wood surfaces are very smooth. Therefore, knives must be aligned and sharp—otherwise, every flaw or dent in the knives will leave a permanent mark in the wood. When moulding, the rough material is fed through machines as one would do with hardwood rather than softwood. The chip-extraction system should remove shavings to prevent indentations in the planed surface.

Acetylated wood was an ideal window frame material for this Italian restaurant. With its low thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, and reduced maintenance, the material is able to stand up to the west-facing exposure and the moisture-rich saltwater air, while also allowing for the esthetically required dark coating without concern about swelling and distortion.[5]
Acetylated wood was an ideal window frame material for this Italian restaurant. With its low thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, and reduced maintenance, the material is able to stand up to the west-facing exposure and the moisture-rich saltwater air, while also allowing for the esthetically required dark coating without concern about swelling and distortion.

Before machining, moisture content (MC) should be checked to ensure it is less than eight per cent. Due to this low moisture content, however, the material may be more brittle. The acetylation process increases the Janka hardness of the original wood by 50 per cent.1
The wood is more comparable in machining to species like hard maple, American cherry, or American walnut.

Though acetylated wood requires use of corrosion-resistant hardware as previously mentioned, it will not impact fabrication machinery if normal shop procedures are followed.

Adhesives and coatings
Before using new adhesives or coatings, this author recommends fabricators team up with manufacturers to ensure compatibility and performance. Acetylated wood works with most commonly used wood adhesive systems, including:

Water-based glues typically require clamping overnight.

Acetylated wood does not have to be finished for it to be durable and dimensionally stable; however, like all wood species, if left uncoated it is susceptible to weathering (i.e. staining or discolouring) and will slowly obtain a natural grey patina in outdoor applications. To retain a ‘natural appearance’ with reduced potential discolouration issues, one can apply:

With a film-forming coating, the end grain should be sealed beforehand so protection of all finished sides against water uptake is approximately equal. Like some other woods, such as Western red cedar, a primer with tannin or resin blocker is recommended to prevent tannin bleed that can lead to yellowing, especially when using white or light-coloured paints.

Non-film-forming coatings can be applied if water uptake is not an issue. Oil-based stains and hydrophobic agents have water-repellent properties, but often cannot prevent water uptake on horizontal parts. Acetylated wood can absorb a great deal of oil. To minimize absorption, the first coat of oil should be completely dry before additional coats are applied.

Whether pure or oil/varnish mixtures, penetrating oils—such as tung, linseed, and walnut oil—may be used. However, oils can be a food source to fungi. Products containing a fungicide/mildewcide are recommended if appearance is an important consideration.

Acetylated wood was used for the windows, doors, and sidelites of this commercial restoration project. Along with its dimensional stability, the material was in keeping with the historic project’s requirements for the use of traditional materials.[6]
Acetylated wood was used for the windows, doors, and sidelites of this commercial restoration project. Along with its dimensional stability, the material was in keeping with the historic project’s requirements for the use of traditional materials.

Environmental considerations
Acetylation is an environmentally benign process—no toxins are added to the wood, and the chief byproduct is acetic acid, which is nontoxic and biodegradable. This byproduct is either recycled back into the compound used for the acetylation (i.e. acetic anhydride) or sold into the substantial acetic acid merchant market. Besides a very small amount of natural resins isolated from the wood, there is very little waste, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are minimized.

A recent lifecycle assessment (LCA) concluded acetylated wood has a much lower environmental impact compared to many commonly used building products, including metals, concrete, and unsustainable tropical hardwood. The radiata pine used to make the material is sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)- or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)-certified forests, and one manufacturer has achieved Cradle-to-Cradle Gold certification—a first for wood products under the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) program.2

Conclusion
Though acetylated wood was first made commercially available using radiata pine, the technology can be applied to other types of species and additional wood products. For example, acetylated wood has recently been introduced in a red alder species, which is ideal for and familiar to the North American market. The acetylation treatment is also being extended to medium-density fibreboard (MDF). The expected expansion in selection for acetylated wood species and products will allow for limitless uses for the durable, stable, sustainable material for entry doors and numerous other applications.

Notes
1 The Janka hardness test, often used to determine wood’s suitability as a flooring product, measures the resistance of a type of material to withstand denting and wear. It gauges the force necessary to embed an 11.28-mm (0.44-in.) steel ball, to half its diameter, into wood.
2 For more information, visit www.mbdc.com.

Lisa Ayala is the North American sales manager for U.K.-based Accsys Technologies, the first company in the world to commercialize acetylated wood, offering the product under the Accoya brand name. She can be contacted via e-mail at lisa.ayala@accsysplc.com.

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/4.Westgate-Joinery-Accoya.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/2.Westgate-Joinery-Accoya.jpg
  3. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Grades.jpg
  4. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Grades-pt2.jpg
  5. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Pizza-Santa-Barbera.jpg
  6. [Image]: https://www.constructioncanada.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/P4170-images.jpg

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