Mechanisms and Key Factors Governing Wood Fading in Ming-Qing Hardwood Furniture

Mechanisms and Key Factors Governing Wood Fading in Ming-Qing Hardwood Furniture | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Mechanisms and Key Factors Governing Wood Fading in Ming-Qing Hardwood Furniture Jiayi Zhang, Lin Shi, Ting He, Fan Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Ming-Qing hardwood furniture represents a significant component of Chinese cultural heritage, where surface appearance and material authenticity are closely linked. However, progressive color fading is widely observed, gradually diminishing both visual integrity and historical value. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms behind this deterioration remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding material-specific responses and environmental influences. This study examined five representative hardwood species commonly used in Ming-Qing furniture: Pterocarpus indicus (red sandalwood), Dalbergia odorifera (Huanghuali), Pterocarpus macrocarpus (rosewood), Dalbergia cochinchinensis (Siamese rosewood), and Senna siamea (ironwood). Specimens with waxed finishes, lacquered coatings, and untreated surfaces were subjected to controlled light and environmental ageing. Variations in chemical structure, surface morphology, and color were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and colorimetry to capture the fading process from multiple perspectives. The results revealed clear differences in fading behavior among species, largely governed by intrinsic chemical composition. P. indicus demonstrated relatively high stability, whereas P. macrocarpus showed greatest susceptibility to color change. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation was identified as the primary driving factor, promoting lignin degradation, extractive oxidation, and microstructural damage. Surface treatments also affected performance: lacquered layers offer short-term protection, while waxed layers maintained more stable behavior over prolonged exposure. Overall, fading arises from the combined effects of light exposure, material properties, and surface condition. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing targeted conservation strategies for hardwood furniture. Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9382248","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":622690864,"identity":"2db69aba-b411-4a21-b806-73c6813800b2","order_by":0,"name":"Jiayi Zhang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Beijing Forestry University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jiayi","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""},{"id":622690865,"identity":"59c96576-1d46-4e3a-a5da-4c3fa428912e","order_by":1,"name":"Lin Shi","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Central South University of Forestry and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lin","middleName":"","lastName":"Shi","suffix":""},{"id":622690867,"identity":"8f27f63d-acfd-4e2c-94f3-1e8cebcb299d","order_by":2,"name":"Ting He","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Central South University of Forestry and Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ting","middleName":"","lastName":"He","suffix":""},{"id":622690869,"identity":"e6fafa9e-6a1d-41d8-b5d3-66f411a1c092","order_by":3,"name":"Fan Zhang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABDElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBAC+xkg0gaI2dsPPmbgkQNxDfBqYQRrSQNinjPJxgw8xqRokUgwk2ZgIEILs3Tzs4dfEuzyGBgS0qoLZAwSG9ibt0kw1NzBqYVN5pi5sUxCcjEDw8Fjt2fwALXwHCuTYDj2DKcWHpB7JH8wJzYwNqTd5uH5k9ggkWMmwdhwGKcWCYn0b9ISCfWJDcwMZsU8IFvk3+DXYgA0U/JDwuHEBjYGM2awFgkeglrKpBkSjgO9wJMsDfSLcRtPWrFFwjHcWuxnpG+T/JFQDXTP84OfC3sMZPvZD2+88aEGtxYQYOYB6T0AJBh7gGEIEkrAqwGo8Aec+QOPslEwCkbBKBixAADARU5AaqfmbAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Beijing Forestry University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fan","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-04-10 17:53:45","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":107653655,"identity":"f91e3732-63d4-49a2-96db-c28591ba557b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-23 15:25:59","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1522533,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MechanismsandKeyFactorsGoverningWoodFadinginMingQingHardwoodFurniture.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9382248/v1_covered_4759e991-1908-4e75-9f3a-f7e92a3726e2.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Mechanisms and Key Factors Governing Wood Fading in Ming-Qing Hardwood Furniture","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Ming-Qing hardwood furniture represents a significant component of Chinese cultural heritage, where surface appearance and material authenticity are closely linked. However, progressive color fading is widely observed, gradually diminishing both visual integrity and historical value. Despite its prevalence, the mechanisms behind this deterioration remain insufficiently understood, particularly regarding material-specific responses and environmental influences. This study examined five representative hardwood species commonly used in Ming-Qing furniture: Pterocarpus indicus (red sandalwood), Dalbergia odorifera (Huanghuali), Pterocarpus macrocarpus (rosewood), Dalbergia cochinchinensis (Siamese rosewood), and Senna siamea (ironwood). Specimens with waxed finishes, lacquered coatings, and untreated surfaces were subjected to controlled light and environmental ageing. Variations in chemical structure, surface morphology, and color were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and colorimetry to capture the fading process from multiple perspectives. The results revealed clear differences in fading behavior among species, largely governed by intrinsic chemical composition. P. indicus demonstrated relatively high stability, whereas P. macrocarpus showed greatest susceptibility to color change. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation was identified as the primary driving factor, promoting lignin degradation, extractive oxidation, and microstructural damage. Surface treatments also affected performance: lacquered layers offer short-term protection, while waxed layers maintained more stable behavior over prolonged exposure. Overall, fading arises from the combined effects of light exposure, material properties, and surface condition. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing targeted conservation strategies for hardwood furniture.","manuscriptTitle":"Mechanisms and Key Factors Governing Wood Fading in Ming-Qing Hardwood Furniture","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-04-21 11:10:54","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9382248/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a5096131-1174-4ce1-87a6-92cca5ecce39","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 21st, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-28T16:24:28+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-04-21 11:10:54","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9382248","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9382248","identity":"rs-9382248","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}