Water based wood coatings - novel learnings pushing performance higher

 
Wood Coatings typically provide aesthetic appeal in clear coats or perfect finishes in pigmented systems - with a range of gloss levels from high to deep matte. Aside from the appearance the coating is expected to show an enhanced degree of wear resistance. Additives for surface modification play an important role for the optimization of mechanical resistance. Studying the effects of additive packages in the formulation via methods like electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy or defined single scratch plus electron microscopy give insights into the underlying working mechanisms. Besides liquid additives, the addition of particles not only imparts matting degrees but specialty fillers can push performance beyond current limitations. Especially the incorporation of novel spherical silica particles allows to achieve synergies regarding bulk and surface properties like scratch and abrasion resistance.