Cold remote plasma modification of wood: Optimization process using experimental design

A Cold Remote (N2 + O2) Plasma (CRNOP) process was used in order to create new surface properties on various wooden samples. Two applications were studied and optimized using experimental design. The first one involved samples (fir, pine, beech and oak) treated by the CRNOP in order to increase their impregnability evaluated by dynamic wetting and water absorption measurements. In the best conditions, water absorption was increased by 1.8; 1.9; 2.0 and 5.1 for fir, pine, oak and beech, respectively. The second application involved a plasma polymerization of 1,1,3,3, tetramethyldisiloxane induced by the CRNOP in order to create a superhydrophobic coating on beech sample previously treated by the CRNOP. In optimal conditions, a contact angle equal to 160° could be reached. FTIR spectroscopy give evidence for Si-O-Si, Si-O-C and Si(CH3)n bands in a polysiloxane structure.