Construction and characterization of superhydrophobic wood coatings using one-step technique

This study was aiming at enhancing the stain resistance and durability of varnish on wood surfaces, a super hydrophobic solution was created by blending the synthetic ZIF-8/paraffin with Hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) at a specified mass ratio. This superhydrophobic mixture was then directly applied onto the wood varnish coating using a one-step method. The microscopic characterization, transmittance, wear resistance, and water contact angle (WCA) tests of hydrophobic coatings indicated that the mass ratio of ZIF-8 to HDTMS affected the surface microstructure and roughness of wood coatings. When the ratio reached 10:1, 5:1, and 2:1, the nanoparticles were dispersed at the interface of the varnish, and the film forming effect was uniform. The transmittance of the varnish coating was about 90%, and the transmittance of the superhydrophobic coating was about 80%. The water absorption rate of the treated sample was much lower than that of the untreated sample. After 10 cycles of abrasion tests, while the WCA decreased, it remained above 150°. Water droplets on the coating surface can remove pollutants through “rolling washing”, demonstrating good self-cleaning performance. The one-step method enables the rapid creation of superhydrophobic films on the surface of wood varnish coating.