Sol-gel hybrid coatings for wood products with improved surface durability and repellence properties

Wood and wood-based composites are widely used as construction, furnishing and decorating materials for ecological reasons and also by reason of the appealing appearance of wooden surfaces. However, due to its softness and water-absorbing nature, plain wood and wood composite surfaces are easily damaged by water and by mechanical abrasion. Wood products with improved surface properties can be achieved by using coating systems based on sol-gel hybrid concepts. By tailoring and optimising the composition of the sol-gel, the properties of the thin coatings can be directed to the desired direction. Coating systems consisting of a ceramic network and polymeric compounds have been developed in order to make transparent abrasive-resistant and water-repelling surfaces for wooden substrates. In this work, the performance of the hybrid coatings on pine and birch (Pinus sylvestris and Betula pendula) substrates was evaluated by means of surface characteristic measurements (e.g. surface energy, hydrophobicity, gloss, microscope evaluation on surface structure) prior to and after abrasion procedures