Abstract
In recent years, awareness regarding sustainability and the responsible usage of natural resources has become more important in our modern society. As a result, wood as a building material experiences a renaissance. However, depending on the use case, protective measures may be necessary to increase wood’s durability and prolong its service life. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of parylene-N layers offers an interesting alternative to solvent-based and potentially environmentally harmful coating processes. The CVD process utilized in this study generated transparent, uniform barrier layers and can be applied on an extensive range of substrates without the involvement of any solvents. In this study, European beech wood samples (Fagus sylvatica L.) were coated with parylene-N using the CVD process, with paracyclophane as a precursor. The aim of the study was to analyze the water absorption of beech wood, in relation to the different layer thicknesses of parylene-N. Therefore, four different coating thicknesses from 0.5 to 40 μm were deposited, depending on the initial amount of precursor used. The deposited layers were analyzed by reflection interference spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and their chemical structures and compositions were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Due to the chemical structure of parylene-N, the deposited layers led to a significantly increased water contact angle and reduced the water uptake by 25–34% compared to the uncoated reference samples. A linear correlation between layer thickness and water absorption was observed. The coating of wood with parylene-N provides a promising water barrier, even with thin layers.
Highlights
Wood, as a natural renewable raw material, is used in many fields of application
The deposited layers were analyzed by reflection interference spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and their chemical structures and compositions were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
Four different layer thicknesses of parylene-N were applied to beech wood in order to reduce the water uptake
Summary
As a natural renewable raw material, is used in many fields of application. If wood is exposed to natural environmental influences, degradation of its components will occur. This is caused by, for example, UV radiation [1]. The penetration of water causes the swelling and shrinkage of the wood [2], and the degradation products caused by the irradiation are washed out [3]. Due to the water absorption and the decomposition processes, the mechanical properties are negatively affected and the appearance of the wood changes [5]. Wood can be protected against the described hazards through various approaches, such as impregnation or coating application
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