Wettability and adherence of acrylic paints on long and short rotation teaks

ABSTRACT

The quality of finished wood products depends on the quality of its coating layer. An important indicator for evaluating the quality is Adherence of the paint on the wood surface. The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of wood surface roughness and the viscosity of acrylic paints (pure acrylic and acrylic copolymer) to the wettability and Adherence for long and short rotation teaks. Wood surface with various degrees of roughness was prepared by sanding with abrasive papers of P120, P240, and P360 grits. Different viscosity of the acrylic paints was prepared composition between paint and water (w/w) of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, and 70:30. The wettability of the acrylic paints on teak wood surfaces was measured using a sessile drop contact angle method with the S/G model. Adherence of the coating layer was measured using a crosscut test. The results showed that the increase in the roughness (Ra) and the decrease in the viscosity of the paints resulted in the increase in the wettability which leads to better Adherence of acrylic paints on the surface of teak woods. The pure acrylic paint generated better wettability and Adherence compared to the acrylic copolymer.     

Changes in wettability of heat-treated wood due to artificial weathering

Effect of artificial weathering on the wettability of three heat-treated North American wood species (jack pine, aspen, and birch) is studied from the point of view of the structural and chemical changes taking place on the wood surface. Weathering increases wettability of all three heat-treated woods by water. Changes in wettability during artificial weathering differ according to heat treatment procedure and wood species and are likely due to combination of structural and chemical changes of the surfaces. Scanning electron microscopic analysis indicates that cracks form due to degradation taking place during weathering. As a result, water has easier entry into the cell wall, which consequently increases wettability. IR spectra suggest that the OH/CH₂ ratio for heat-treated specimens is inversely proportional to the contact angle regardless of the type of wood species. The presence of cellulose-rich layer on wood surface and increasing amount of amorphous cellulose transformed from crystallized cellulose due to weathering result in increase in hydroxyl; consequently, it increases heat-treated wood wettability.     

Analysis of sanding parameters on surface properties and coating performance of red oak wood

Sanding is the most common machining process used to prepare wood surfaces prior to coating. Hence, to improve surface quality and coating performance during this process, an optimal set of machining parameters should be established according to wood species and its final use. The effects of grit size and feed speed on surface properties and coating performance of red oak wood were studied. Surface quality was assessed by surface roughness, scanning electron micrographs, and wetting analyses. Coating performance was evaluated using pull-off adhesion tests on coated surfaces before and after an accelerated weathering. The results showed that smoother surfaces are obtained as the grit size number of the abrasive increased. On the other hand, minor differences were observed on cell damages and surface roughness as feed speed changed. Also, there was little difference among treatments concerning wetting behavior and surface energy. Pull-off strength was more affected by changes in grit size than feed speed. A P100-grit size program with a feed speed of 7 m/min resulted in a suitable roughness which provided good adhesion and high pull-off strength after aging test.     

Changes in surface properties of tropical wood species exposed to the Indonesian climate in relation to mold colonies

Changes in mold populations and genera on the exposed surfaces of tropical hardwoods — albizia (Paraserianthes falcata), kapur (Dryobalanop lanceolata), mahoni (Switenia macrophylla), nangka (Artocarpus heterophyllus), puspa (Schima wallchii) — were investigated. The wood specimens were exposed to the Indonesian climate for 32 weeks. Properties including mass loss, wettability, mold growth (colony-forming units), and mold genera were evaluated. The change in properties after exposure was significantly affected by the wood species, but there was no clear relation between mass loss and the initial chemical components or between wettability and wood density. The number of mold populations was different by exposure period and wood species, but there was no significant effect of climate conditions, such as rainfall and ultraviolet radiation. Of the genera identified,Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, andPenicillium were dominant molds on the exposed wood surfaces.     

The ambient aging of wood fiber and its effect on mechanical properties of MDF panels

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study ambient-aged wood fibers and their effects on the mechanical properties of medium-density fiberboard (MDF). It was found that MDF made with ambient-aged fibers had poorer mechanical properties than MDF made with fresh fibers; this difference resulted from the alterations of surface characteristics of wood fibers after ambient aging, which led to poor wettability of the urea–formaldehyde (UF) resin applied to the aged wood fibers. After 6 months of ambient aging, the concentration of carbonyl groups in the fibers increased by 144%, while the pH value of wood fiber decreased from 5.2 to 4.7. SEM showed that much more UF resin agglomerated on the surface of ambient-aged fibers and the breakage of MDF made with aged fiber frequently occurred at the resin-fiber interfaces, indicated the poorer wettability of UF resin to fibers due to the decrease in surface energy after aging.     

Improved water repellency of black spruce wood surfaces after treatment in carbon tetrafluoride plasmas

Plasma treatments for black spruce wood (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), a widespread forest species from Canada, were carried out in order to waterproof the exposed surfaces. Experiments were performed using inductively coupled argon plasma with carbon tetrafluoride as the gaseous precursor for plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of functional fluoropolymer coatings on wood. Analysis of the wettability through water contact angle measurements showed water-repellent characteristics, with static contact angles up to 130° depending on plasma exposure time, CF₄ concentration in the Ar/CF₄ plasma, and plasma source-to-substrate distance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations of plasma-treated wood surfaces confirmed the growth of a thin, fluorocarbon layer with fluorine atomic concentrations close to 50 % on highly hydrophobic wood surfaces. Estimation of the thickness of the coatings by stylus profilometry revealed that a minimum layer thickness of about 80 nm is required to obtain water repellant wood surfaces with minimum water uptake. This complete set of data indicates that fluorocarbon-containing plasmas represent a very promising approach for improving the durability of wood products in wet and humid conditions.     

Study on the changes in surface characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus tomentosa</Emphasis> due to thermo-hydro-process

The effects of high temperature, moisture, and mechanical action during the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processing, on the changes in surface properties of poplar, namely, surface color, roughness, wettability, and microstructure, were investigated in this study. The correlation between observed changes in surface properties and chemical characteristics was also analyzed. Poplar woods with high moisture content were compressed using different pressures at temperature of 160 °C for four different periods. The wood surfaces became darker and smoother, and their surface free energy decreased significantly after the THM process. THM process markedly reduced surface hygroscopicity compared to the control wood. The cell lumens of THM wood became narrow with increasing compression ratio due to the enhancing high pressure. Collapse and fractures of cell walls developed during THM treatment. Furthermore, results indicated that a series of chemical reactions in different components of wood took place during THM process, such as degradation of hemicelluloses, condensation of lignin, and decomposition of extractives. In turn, these chemical modifications contributed to the darkening of color as well as the reduction of wettability and surface free energy of THM wood.     

Wetting of wood

Summary Thermodynamic work of adhesion, contact angle, wettability and acid-base contributions of the wetting of four North American wood species were determined using the Wilhelmy technique. The wetting angles with water varied from 60° for Sitka spruce to 74° for Douglas-fir. The wood surfaces had a strong acidic character since the greatest interactions for all the wood species occurred with formamide (basic probe) while lesser interactions were obtained with ethylene glycol (acidic probe). In addition, dispersive and polar surface free energies of wood, _d ^s and _p ^s respectively, were determined using Wu's simultaneous equations. In general, 75 to 80% of the total surface free energy of wood was due to dispersion forces. Specific wettabilities of wood and advancing contact angles in thirty various organic liquids were also evaluated.     

Preliminary observations of hydrothermal growth of nanomaterials on wood surfaces

A hydrothermal method of fabricating nanomaterials at wood surfaces is described in this paper. Nanomaterials with different morphologies including spherical anatase TiO₂, amorphous SiO₂, wurtzite ZnO nanorod arrays, intertwining MnO₂ nanowires, shuttle-shaped CaCO₃ nanorods, and rhombic and cubic NaCl were deposited at wood surfaces. TiO₂–ZnO compound nanoparticles and CuO nanoparticles were also created. The surface morphologies and crystalline structures of the prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. No obvious changes in the color of wood were caused by the hydrothermal process except those nanomaterials of Mn or Cu deposited at surfaces.     

Microscopic processes of shearing fracture of old wood, examined using the acoustic emission technique

We examined the process of microscopic fracturing peculiar to old wood, based on the generation characteristics of acoustic emission (AE) events and fracture surface analysis. The shearing tests of old wood obtained from construction-derived lumber and new wood within 3 years after lumbering were performed in accordance with the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS Z 2101-1994). The species of wood used in this study was Japanese red pine. The old wood had been used as a beam in a building for 270 years. The number of the occurrences of AEs at low load levels was larger in the old wood than in the new wood. As a result of analyzing the AE amplitude distributions, we found that the period in which AEs with small amplitudes were frequently generated was longer in the old wood than in the new wood. Also, the fracture surfaces after the final rupture under scanning electron microscope showed more uneven and complicated surfaces in the old wood. Based on the above findings, we presume that during the shearing test the old wood underwent a relatively long and stable progress of microcracking before the final fracture.     

Progress of discoloration in green,freshly cut veneer sheets of black alder (Alnus glutinosa L.) wood

Abstract

Black alder wood has a great potential for more wide-spread use in the woodworking industry. This study describes the colour changes that appeared the first few hours after cutting thin veneer sheets from fresh, unseasoned black alder wood. CIELab coordinates were recorded for 50 spots at time intervals from 0 to 140 minutes exposure of the fresh-cut surfaces. The most pronounced change was increased lightness developing from 20 to 60 minutes after cutting. A model for total colour change as function of exposure time was developed. Redness of veneer sheets increased only slightly, i.e. the expected transfer to orange discoloration of the surface did not occur. The reason for this was probably that part of the free water in the wood was squeezed out during veneer production. The findings of this study give useful information about the colour change that appeared directly after veneer cutting, advising to avoid excess water on wood surface and ensuring quick surface drying.     

Chemical characteristics of surfaces of hardwood and softwood deteriorated by weathering

The factors that cause weather-induced deterioration of wood surfaces were determined by chemical and spectroscopic analyses. Albizzia (Paraserianthes falcata Becker.) and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) were exposed to two temperate conditions of natural weathering with and without rainfall and to accelerated conditions of artificial weathering coupled with ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation and water flashing. Infrared spectroscopic analysis showed that the oxidative reaction of lignin was observed under all conditions of weathering for both wood species. However, a marked decrease in lignin and hemicellulose content were recognized when albizzia woods were exposed to weathering with water. Lignin content in the softwood sugi did not decrease as much as in albizzia even in the presence of water, but the modification of lignin macromolecules was assumed to be accelerated by water, as seen by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. These results showed that the presence of water promotes the weathering deterioration of wood under UV irradiation.     

Changes in the anatomy of surface and liquid uptake of wood after laser incising

The effects of laser incising on the surface of heat-affected zones (HAZs) and liquid uptake of wood were examined. Deep pin holes were incised on the tangential section of the wood with a laser beam of 1 kW in power with varied pulse widths, and the HAZs of the holes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The length of liquid uptake passing through HAZs surfaces was then measured. It was observed that the HAZs were unable to maintain normal porous structure, and smooth surfaces such as that of wood charcoal were also not observed. This is because the composite of the middle lamella completely melted, which led to a decrease in the length of liquid uptake. In addition, the release of high gas-pressure and thermal energy during the laser-incising process did not damage the tylose and the aspirated pit in the longitudinal direction. Because of this, the liquid movement remained blocked. However, the incising holes provided additional liquid-intake points, resulting in greater intake capacity. Moreover, it was observed that improvement of liquid impregnation is related to hole diameter.     

Wettability changes of wheat straw treated with chemicals and enzymes

A study was conducted to test wettability changes of the wheat straw treated with different methods for the preparation of wheat straw particle board. The wheat straws were separately sprayed with two chemicals (0.6% NaOH, 0.3% H2O2) and three enzymes (lipase, xylanase, cellulase). The contact angle between water and the surface of wheat straw was measured and the spreading-penetration parameters (K-values) were also calculated with wetting model. The surfaces of treated wheat straw and control sample were scanned by means of Micro-FTIR, and their peaks arrangements were analyzed. The surface morphologies of treated wheat straw and control sample were also observed by SEM. Chemical etching was found on the exterior surfaces of the straws treated separately with 0.6% NaOH and 0.3% H2O2; furthermore, the spreading-penetration parameters (K-values) of the distilled water on the exterior surfaces of the treated wheat straw along the grain were higher than that of control. The wettability of exterior surfaces of the wheat straws treated separately with lipase, xylanase and cellulose were improved after treating for seven days, and among the three enzymes treatments, the lipase treatment showed best result. The lipase treatment and NaOH treatment were determined as better methods for improving the wettability of wheat straw surfaces. However, in the economic aspect, NaOH treatment was more practical and easier in the pretreatment for the manufacture of straw particle board.     

Preparation and characterization of conductive and corrosion-resistant wood-based composite by electroless Ni–W–P plating on birch veneer

A conductive and corrosion-resistant wood-based composite was obtained via electroless Ni–W–P plating on birch veneers. The W content of the Ni–W–P coatings obtained under different Na₂WO₄ concentrations in the plating bath was analyzed. The crystal structure, surface morphology, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic shielding effectiveness, surface wettability, adhesive strength and corrosion resistance of the composite were investigated. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the coating consisted mainly of Ni⁰, Mo⁰ and P⁰ doped with little of their oxides. X-ray diffractometry analysis suggested the obtained coatings contained a nanocrystalline structure. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the veneer surfaces were covered with uniform and continuous coatings. Birch veneers plated with Ni–W–P alloy exhibited good electrical conductivity with surface resistivity below 200 mΩ/cm² and shielding effectiveness above 35 dB from 9 kHz to 1.5 GHz. Ni–W–P films firmly adhered to the wood surface. Water contact angle of the composite reached about 130° indicating the hydrophobic surface. The Ni–W–P-plated veneers showed excellent corrosion resistance due to the polarization resistance above 3.1 kΩ/cm². This study further provides a new method for fabricating multifunctional wood-based composites.     

Micromorphology,moisture sorption and mechanical properties of a biocomposite based on acetylated wood particles and cellulose ester

Abstract

One of the major issues in a long-term perspective for the use of wood–plastic composites (WPCs) in outdoor applications is the moisture sensitivity of the wood component and the consequent dimensional instability and susceptibility to biological degradation of the composite. In this work, the effects of using an acetylated wood component and a cellulose ester as matrix on the micromorphology, mechanical performance and moisture uptake of injection-moulded WPCs have been studied. Composites based on unmodified and acetylated wood particles, specially designed with a length-to-width ratio of about 5–7, combined with both cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and polypropylene (PP) matrices were studied. The size and shape of the wood particles were studied before and after the processing using light microscopy, and the micromorphology of the composites was studied using a newly developed surface preparation technique based on ultraviolet laser irradiation combined with low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (LV-SEM). The water vapour sorption in the composites and the effect of accelerated weathering were measured using thin samples which were allowed to reach equilibrium moisture content (EMC). The length-to-diameter ratio was only slightly decreased for the acetylated particles after compounding and injection moulding, although both the unmodified and the acetylated particles were smaller in size after the processing steps. The tensile strength was about 40% higher for the composite based on acetylated wood than for the composite with unmodified wood using either CAP or PP as matrix, whereas the notched impact strength of the composite based on acetylated wood was about 20% lower than those of the corresponding unmodified composites. The sorption experiments showed that the EMC was 50% lower in the composites with an acetylated wood component than in the composites with an unmodified wood component. The choice of matrix material strongly affected the moisture absorptivity of the WPC. The composites with CAP as matrix gained moisture more rapidly than the composites with PP as matrix. It was also found that accelerated ageing in a Weather-Ometer® significantly increased the moisture sensitivity of the PP-based composites.     

Bondability of tropical fast-growing tree species I: Indonesian wood species

To estimate the potential bonding performance of bonded wood products from tropical fast-growing tree species, a study on the bondability of Paraserianthes falcataria L. Nielsen, Pinus merkusii Jungh et. De. Vriese, and Acacia mangium Willd from Indonesia was conducted. Two-ply laminations were produced using polyvinyl acetate emulsion (PVAc), urea formaldehyde (UF), resorcinol formaldehyde (RF), and water-based polymer isocyanate (API) adhesives. In order to determine the bonding performance, the block-shear test was applied according to the Japanese Agricultural Standard for structural glued laminated timber under normal conditions and after accelerated-aging treatments. To support this study, the wettability of each wood species was also investigated through contact-angle measurement. The results showed that the bonding performance of low-density P. falcataria was better than that of medium-density P. merkusii and medium-density A. mangium, while the bonding performance of medium-density P. merkusii was better than that of medium-density A. mangium. Furthermore, compared with A. mangium, the small contact angle and good wettability in P. falcataria and P. merkusii result in better adhesion and more intimate contact between the wood surfaces and adhesive.     

Finger-jointing green softwood: Evaluation of the interaction between polyurethane adhesive and wood

Abstract

Existing European standards for finger-jointing of load-bearing lumber require the wood to be dried before gluing. This article presents a study on the properties of green-glued finger joints, wet wood being bonded prior to drying. Issues to consider, in comparison to finger-jointing of dry wood, are mechanical performance of the joint, absorption of the polymer by the wood in its natural/wet state, and the chemical reactions of the adhesive on contact with water. Finger-jointed samples were tested in bending, and the glue joints analysed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and microdensitometry. A patented one-component polyurethane adhesive developed for gluing-green wood which has a moisture content usually higher than 70% was used in the study. The resulting green-glued joints showed improved strength properties in comparison to dry-jointed joints. The results confirm that green-glued joints provide a wide, continuous wood/adhesive interface from one substrate to the other. The adhesive penetrates several cells deep and the density of the wood adjacent to the joint surfaces is increased. The results also indicate that the patented adhesive forms covalent bonds to the wood substrate.     

水性树脂底漆对木材表面润湿性的影响

水性树脂底漆对木材表面润湿性能的影响是决定木器涂装质量的关键因素。为了给木器水性漆涂装提供基本依据,选择松木、杉木、橡木、奥古曼和非洲紫檀5种木材,研究水性丙烯酸树脂底漆、水性丙烯酸改性聚氨酯底漆、双组分水性丙烯酸树脂对其表面润湿性能的影响。采用正交试验设计方案,以漆种、底漆质量分数、树种和干磨砂纸粒度为影响润湿性的因素,分别研究水性树脂底漆在木材弦、径切面的接触角大小和5种木材弦、径切面的孔槽比,分析影响木材表面润湿性的因素及原因。结果表明:4个因素水平中,底漆质量分数和漆种对木材表面润湿性的影响非常显著,树种对其影响显著,干磨砂纸粒度对其无显著影响;5种木材径切面的孔槽比高于弦切面,针叶材弦、径切面的孔槽比高于阔叶材,径切面的润湿性优于弦切面,针叶材表面润湿性优于阔叶材;此外,单组分水性树脂底漆在5种木材弦、径切面的润湿性优于双组分水性树脂底漆。因此,在木器水性漆高质量涂装中,对于不同木材种类应该选择合适的水性涂料及最优质量分数,才能保证涂装中底漆良好的质量。     

Effect of wood species,digester conditions,and defibrator disc distance on wettability of fiberboard

Wettability of medium density fiberboard (MDF) surface affects paint or adhesive application and is, thus, of importance in the course of furniture manufacturing. This study investigated the effects of wood species, digester conditions and defibrator disc distance on the wettability properties. It was found that the wettability of the MDF significantly decreased with increasing the defibrator disc distance and increased with the increment in the severity of the digestion conditions. The highest wettability was found for samples made of beech wood having an average contact angle value of 74.5°, followed by poplar wood (76.5°), birch wood (79.7°), the mixture (1:1) of scots pine and beech wood (82.9°), and scots pine wood (86.4°), respectively.