An ultraviolet radiation protective transparent wood film retained natural wood texture and tactile properties

Abstract

In this study, the raw material of Japanese cypress wood (Platycladus orientalis (Linn.) Franco) was used and subjected to a series of treatment, including replacement of the water in wood by organic solvent, liquid UV-curable coating impregnation, surface coating removal, and UV curing. By this method, we innovatively produced a new type of transparent wood film which we refer to as “wood-texture transparent wood” (WTTW). WTTW retained the color, texture, and tactility of wood, while exhibiting a high transmittance of light and haze. Macroscopic and microscopic tests demonstrated that by removing the excess coating on the impregnated wood film surface, the microstructure and roughness of the wood surface could be successfully preserved, and the wood-like tactility of WTTW could be realized. WTTW exhibits better properties than those of the original wood, including a maximum light transmittance of 72.3 %, a haze of 72.3 % (at 550 nm), a tensile strength of 123.90 MPa in the longitudinal direction, a tensile strength of 6.64 MPa in the cross direction, and a hardness of 81.8 HD. In comparison to the traditional transparent wood, WTTW not only streamlines the preparation process, but also preserves the original wood texture, which aligns more closely with the tenets of green environmental protection and is more suitable for home decoration and privacy protection.