Modification of wood substrates by thin films: a photochemical approach

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To maintain its competitiveness, the Canadian wood industry is seeking to add value to its product portfolio through the implementation of innovative and sustainable technologies. Specifically, in the secondary manufacturing sub sector, there is a desire to improve material performance and properties in order to offer more durable and resistant products. One of the possible avenues investigated is to impart enhanced water barrier properties to wood substrates directly at the sawmill, rather than relying on operator-dependent and potentially improper coatings applied at the construction site. Such an upstream approach to improve water repellency is expected to yield increased lifespans for wood components. Polytechnique Montreal has recently developed a low-cost and effective gas-phase, photochemical treatment technology called PICVD (photo-initiated chemical vapour deposition), that allows the surface modification of a variety of materials. Preliminary tests using this approach have demonstrated its ability to form a uniform water repellent barrier on the surface of wood samples. This 12-month I2I Phase 1a project aims at validating a series of required performance objectives expected by the industry. Primary objectives include validating and optimizing the performances of the process for interior and exterior wood substrates. Secondary objectives aim to assess the mechanical and chemical profiles of the end product obtained in an experimental setup, to generate a more complete product data sheet. Wood products manufacturers are represented for the purposes of this work by FPInnovations, who will support this project by sharing its expertise in the field with the research team and performing analytical testing to validate performance objectives. The aim of this first phase of the project is to generate enough data to demonstrate the technology for wood applications and validate the interest of wood products manufacturers for this low-cost and efficient novel process. If successful, this work will significantly benefit Canada's wood sector, adding value to the existing product portfolio and potentially generating employment at several levels.