• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.23
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

This study was conducted to examineboth the type of wood decay and the degree of degradation for the waterlogged woods (Alnus spp. and Fraxinus spp., about 5,700~5,900 year old), which were excavated at Higokri, Pyungteak in the west-coastal region of Korea. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation indicated the degradations by soft rot and bacteria were common in both woods. Erosion bacteria attacked gradually and irregularly from the secondary layer to compound middle lamella and often produced the cavity which was similar to soft-rot cavity but much smaller ones. Tunneling bacteria decomposed mainly $S_2$ layer. Though of highly degraded walls, the cells almost kept the original form with intact lignin-rich middle lamella, which were saturated by water. No marine borer's trace indicated that the sealine rise in the western coast of Korean peninsula during the climate optimum period in the holocene might not be high enough to submerge the Higokri area which locates about 2 km from the present sealine.

• 한국문화재보존과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.27-34
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• 2001

Following the recommendations made by the cultural authorities the wooden cultural properties (WCP) had been treated with fire-retardants for fire protection. However, visual inspections of some of the WCPs treated with fire-retardants showed microbial decay. The work was extended to examine the micromorphological characteristics of the WCPs in a Buddhist temple which had been treated with fire-retardant. Microscopic examination showed the presence of typical soft rot cavities along the length of microfibrils in the secondary wall. Bacterial attack was also observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is interesting that the decay patterns observed in the Buddhist temple were very similar to those observed in the waterlogged woods. Presumably chemicals in the fire-retardants used rendered the wood susceptible to attack by soft-rot and bacterial decay by causing an increase in the moisture content of wood. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of fire-retardants used currently on the hygroscopicity and the strength of wood materials in the WCPs. Microbial attacks caused degradation of the secondary cell walls and in some cases also of the middle lamella. In addition, the cell walls in the outer parts of wood were also degraded due to weathering, and cell separation occurred from total disintegration of the middle lamella.