Résumé
The color properties of aging wood samples from historical buildings have been compared with those of recent wood samples that were treated at temperatures ranging 90 to 180 °C. The result of kinetic analysis obtained by the time-temperature superposition method showed that the color change during natual aging was mainly due to a slow and mild oxidation process. In other words, heat treatment could accelerate the changes in wood color that occur during aging. The results has been interpreted that the aging and the subsequent change in wood color begin at the same time of tree harvesting.