Integrated approach to creating durable clear finishes for wood

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There is long-standing desire amongst users of timber for clear coatings that will maintain wood's visual appeal and protect the wood from environmental degradation. Clear finishes transmit light by definition, and photodegradation of wood beneath the coating results in a loss of interfacial adhesion between the wood and coating. This leads to failure of clear finishes on wood after 2-3 years outdoor exposure. The addition of UV absorbers and light stabilizers to clear coatings can increase their durability, but the performance of such systems still falls far short of what consumers want. It seems increasingly likely that consumer expectations will only be achieved by optimizing the coating system and also making radical changes to the wood substrate to reduce its susceptibility to photodegradation. Such a holistic approach may be able to increase the durability of clear coating systems to the desired level whereas it is difficult to see how conventional approaches to either coatings formulation or wood treatment could produce the necessary improvements. The proposed research will adopt this holistic approach by developing novel photostabilizing systems for wood and synthesizing meta oxide additives to significantly improve the durability of aqueous acrylic dispersions on wood. Integration of the most promising photoprotective treatment and clear coat should create a durable clear finishing system for wood that can match the high expectations of consumers. A solution to the problem of the poor resistance of wood to the weather and the development of highly durable natural finishes for wood could have a dramatic impact on the demand for Canadian timber as well as providing obvious commercial opportunities for durable clear coatings and photoprotective primers and treatments.