The Impact Of Ultrasound-Assisted Mixing Method For Varnish And Components On The Varnish Layer’s Surface Hardness And Surface Scratch Resistance

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine effects of mechanical and ultrasound-assisted stirring methods for varnish + components mixing on the varnish layer’s surface hardness and surface scratch resistance. The study focused on polyurethane, acrylic, and polyester varnish systems, which were applied to three distinct wood types: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Turkish beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky), and African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis A. Chev.). The mixing processes included mechanical stirring for 3 and 5 minutes, as well as ultrasound-assisted stirring with varying power levels (80 watts and 120 watts) for 3 and 5 minutes. The results indicated that the highest surface hardness was achieved using the mechanical stirring method for Turkish beech with polyester varnish at 3 minutes of stirring (175.10), while the lowest surface hardness was observed for African mahogany with acrylic varnish and 120 watts ultrasound-assisted stirring for 5 minutes (66.80). The highest surface scratch resistance was observed in Scots pine treated with polyester varnish using mechanical stirring for 5 minutes (0.760 N), and in Turkish beech treated with acrylic varnish using 80 watts ultrasound-assisted stirring for 3 minutes (0.760 N). Overall, the findings suggested that the ultrasound-assisted mixing method generally fell short in terms of enhancing the varnish properties compared to the mechanical mixing technique.