Nondestructive visualization of polyethylene glycol impregnation in wood using ultrashort echo time 3D imaging

In this study, we demonstrated a nondestructive 3D monitoring method of polyethylene glycol (PEG) impregnation in wood using magnetic resonance imaging ultrashort echo time (UTE). The materials used were sound wood, which was impregnated with a 20 wt.% aqueous solution of PEG40 0 0 for two weeks and further impregnated at an interval of two weeks with PEG concentrations of 40, 60, 80, and 100 wt.%, as well as archaeological wood impregnated with a 40 wt.% solution of PEG 40 0 0 at room temperature for about 4 years. The signal intensity of the PEG40 0 0 aqueous solution monotonically increased with increasing concentration of PEG, although under certain temperature conditions. Stereoscopic images were created from the UTE image data of the wood sample, and it was possible to represent the PEG-impregnated portion of the wood sample in 3D. In conclusion, it has been suggested that UTE imaging is a feasible method to nondestructively visualize the PEG impregnation state of waterlogged wood in 3D and to evaluate and monitor it from all directions with a high spatial resolution, under specific temperature control of the material. (c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Automated summary

This study demonstrated a nondestructive 3D monitoring method of polyethylene glycol (PEG) impregnation in wood using magnetic resonance imaging ultrashort echo time (UTE). The signal intensity of the PEG solution increased monotonically with concentration, and stereoscopic images showed the PEG-impregnated portion in 3D. The study suggests that UTE imaging is a feasible method for nondestructively visualizing the PEG impregnation state of waterlogged wood in 3D.