Wood is one of the most important materials in construction industry. Because of its organic constitution, it is slowly destroyed by the long-term impact of water, oxygen and light under atmospheric conditions and hence, needs to be sufficiently protected. Appropriate protection of wood leads to its longer life and hence, huge reduction in maintenance costs. There are several methods to protect wood, either by its chemical modification or by its surface treatment [1,2].

Unfortunately, many of the wood preservatives that have been used so far are highly toxic to humans and hence, much attention has been paid to development of nontoxic materials/methods for the protection of wood [3]. Recently, several reports have been published on the use of inorganic-organic hybrid coating for protection of wood substrates. The sol-gel process to generate hybrid coatings is quite versatile and even allows room temperature deposition of hybrid inorganic-organic films on a wide range of substrates, including wood [4].

Wood surfaces modification with multifunctional alkoxysilanes by sol–gel process is one of promising method to improve and provide new properties for wood materials. The advantage of the sol–gel process is that it allows deposition of thin inorganic–organic layer on various substrates as a result of controlled hydrolysis and polycondensation of alkoxysilanes [5]. The sol-gel coatings created on the wood surface provide barrier properties, moisture control and repellency properties.

In this communication we present a new trialkoxysilanes synthesised from fatty acid derivatives and their application in wood protective coatings.

References:

• Lambourne, R. Strivens, T.A. (Eds), Paint and Surface Coatings. Theory and Practice, (1999) Woodhead Publishing
• Hill, C, Wood Modification Chemical, Thermal and Other Processes, (2006) Wiley
• Materne, T., de Buyl, F., Witucki,G.L., Organosilane Technology in Coating Applications: Review and Perspectives, (2012) Dow Corning Corporation
• Mai, C., Militz H., Modification of wood with silicon compounds. Treatment systems based on organic silicon compounds – a review, Wood Sci Technol., 37, 453–461, (2004)
• Arkles, B., Silane Coupling Agents, (2014) Gelest, Inc.