Old architectural wood materials damaged by a fire were evaluated on the basis of wood species and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of wood tissues in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis. Results of SEM observation showed that tracheid wall thickness of burned parts was very thin compared with undamaged and sound wood, and tylosoid in the resin canals disappeared after the exposure to fire. SEM-EDXS analysis indicated that carbon and oxygen peaks

more »

... ccurred in the original energy band, and the carbon peak was higher than that of the oxygen in the burned part. A computerized tomography was also undertaken to investigate the carbonization layer formed by fire and possible internal defects.