Evaluation of the weathering resistance of waterborne acrylic- and alkyd-based coatings containing HALS, UV absorber, and bark extracts on wood surfaces

Abstract

In this study, tree bark extracts were assessed as functional additives to provide protection in waterborne acrylic- and alkyd-based coatings. Tree bark extracts acted as natural photostabilizers and inhibited UV degradation with high UV absorption capacity. The coating systems comprising bark extracts were compared to the control coating groups comprising ultraviolet light absorbers (UVA) of the hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine (HPT) for acrylic and nonbasic amino ether (NOR) hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) for alkyd. Scots pine surfaces coated with acrylic and alkyd coatings were exposed to artificial weathering for 2016 h. Three different trees (maritime pine, alder and Calabrian pine) with high antioxidant activity and phenol content were used for this purpose. The chemical structure of acrylic and alkyd coating systems was also examined using ATR–FTIR spectroscopy. The weathering resistance of coating systems containing extracts was evaluated in terms of their color changes and surface roughness through macroscopic evaluation, and they were compared to commercial UV absorber. The lowest color change was observed in the alkyd-based coatings with the bark extract. For the alkyd coatings, the color change (∆E) in the control samples was 24.85, whereas it was found to be 4.68, 5.92 and 7.80 in the test samples containing Calabrian pine, maritime pine and alder bark, respectively. However, color stabilization of the acrylic coatings with UV absorber was found to be much better than the acrylic coatings with extracts. The alkyd coating systems with extracts did not exhibit the same performance for surface roughness. The alkyd coating with the UV absorber provided a smoother surface than that with bark extracts. The acrylic coatings with alder and maritime extracts provided the best results. Acrylic coating may be compatible with (Calabrian) bark extracts. According to the obtained results, it was seen that tree bark extracts in wood coating systems have a potential to substitute commercial UV absorbers as a natural product.