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Development of technological methods for efficient application of water-based paints on wood surfaces with the aim of swelling decrease and saving of energy

Sponsor:
AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen, working
group for industrial research associations) IGF-Vorhaben-Nr. 14967 BR (project number)

Funded project partners:
- Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden gemeinnützige GmbH
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e. V. (IPF)


Associated project partners:
- 3H-Lacke (Füllenbruchstraße 13, 32120 Hiddenhausen)
- Venjakob Maschinenbau GmbH (Augsburger Straße 2, 33378 Rheda-Wiedenbrück)
- SORPETALER FENSTERBAU GmbH (Selbecke 6, D-59846 Sundern-Hagen)
- Holz- und Kunststofftechnik Freimersheim (Ilbesheimer Straße 17, 55234 Freimersheim)

Contact persons:
Dr. Frank Simon
Dr. Ralf Frenzel
Gudrun Petzold

Duration:
02/2006 - 08/2008

Abstract
National and European legal rules and regulations require the replacement of solvent-based paints by waterborn paints. However, the presence of water on wood surfaces leads to significant problems because water can penetrate the pore system of wood and causes a swelling of the wood. The aim of the project was the reduction of water uptake of wood by polyelectrolytes without significant changes in the material’s surface polarity and wetting behavior. In moderately acidic, neutral or basic aqueous solutions wooden materials have a negative net surface charge. Therefore, wooden samples were modified by commercially available cationic polyelectrolytes. In particular, weak polyelectrolytes were suitable to reduce the water uptake of wood. There reactive functional groups were used for subsequent cross-linking reactions to form irreversibly anchored polyelectrolyte networks on the wood surfaces. The only slightly decrease in surface polarity observed on the polyelectrolyte-modified materials supported the optimal wetting of wood by the waterborn paints.