Comparison of the protection effectiveness of acrylic polyurethane coatings containing bark extracts on three heat-treated North American wood species: Surface degradation

► Surface degradation of coated heat-treated wood species during aging was studied. ► A coating was developed to delay the discoloration and degradation of wood. ► The discoloration of coated jack pine was much less compared to birch and aspen. ► The discoloration was due to the surface degradation of wood beneath the coating. ► Chain scission of urethane main linkage of the coating was noticed by XPS analysis.