Photocurable resin/nanocellulose composite coatings for wood protection

Novel UV-light curable methacrylic-siloxane-cellulose composite coatings for wood protection were prepared, fully characterized and, then, applied on walnut wood samples in order to assess the potential protective performances of the wooden treated substrates, such as hydrophobicity and surface properties. A comparison between nanocellulose and microcellulose filled coatings (5 and 10 wt%) was also performed. Thermal-mechanical analysis highlighted the higher effectiveness of nanocellulose in increasing the glass transition temperature, improving thermal and dimensional stability and stiffness of the neat photoresin with respect to microcellulose. A more pronounced increase of hydrophobicity (contact angle and water capillarity), surface hardness (Shore D and pencil scratch tests) of the neat UV-light cured matrix filled with nanocellulose and applied on wood was, finally, observed in comparison to microcellulose composites.