Surface characteristics of wood pre-impregnated with borates before varnish coating

Abstract

Some surface characteristics of Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten) pre-impregnated with borates before varnish coating were studied. Boric acid, borax, and sodium perborate were used as borates. An alkyd-based synthetic varnish and polyurethane varnish were used as coating materials. Before varnish coating, wood specimens were impregnated with aqueous Solutions of borates (1%, 3%, and 5%) according to ASTM D1413-76. Then, adhesion, Surface hardness, and gloss of wood surface were tested. Results showed that while borate preimpregnation before varnish coating increased surface hardness and gloss of wood surface, it decreased coating adhesion. Higher borate concentrations resulted in lower adhesion, higher surface hardness, and higher gloss of wood Surface. Polyurethane varnish coated wood surfaces yielded higher surface hardness and gloss than the synthetic varnish coated wood surfaces.