Accoya® Wood ~ Understanding from a Scientific Perspective

Recently, we have seen an increase in the amount of Singapore home users who installed Accoya® wood decking in their outdoor balcony and terrace areas. Some of the home users have enquired whether is there a main difference between Accoya® wood and the natural pine wood species. In fact, the main difference is the high technology wood process that has been studied by worldwide scientist for more than 75 years; this process is known as Acetylation.

Let’s delve deeper in understanding Accoya® manufacturing process:

All natural wood materials contain a similar physical chemical properties group known as “free hydroxyls.” When the climatic conditions in the surrounding changes frequently, the free hydroxyl groups absorb and let off water and moisture as a result. Hence, wood will shrink or swell as a result. Such absorption of water and moisture will also cause the wood to grow humid that will eventually lead to decay and fungi growth.

So what did Acetylation do to natural wood?

Acetylation is done by reacting the wood with a natural organic compound known as acetic anhydride (or commonly known as “diluted” vinegar); the process will effectively “move” the free hydroxyls groups within the wood and transform them into bigger groups, known as acetyl groups. And as a result of this process, the moisture absorption of the wood is significantly reduced, thus increasing the dimensional stability of the wood. The wood also becomes highly durable and indigestible to insects and fungi and thus making it highly resistant to decay.

So how does Accoya® wood benefit you as a home user?

Accoya® is the most durable wood possible that you can find in today’s world; it is perfectly suitable for your outdoor decking and woodwork construction. As a home owner, by installing Accoya® to your decking area, it creates a long lasting fixture that is highly durable and resistant to any rain and shine. To boost your confidence for the product, the brand itself has a 50 years warranty on above ground installations as well as a 25 years warranty for in-ground installations.

By realizing that the Accoya® wood is the product of the Acetylation process, existing home owners will therefore have better understanding as well as increased confidence on using Accoya® wood to beautify their balconies and roof terraces.