The use of herbal extracts in lacquer paint coloring and determination of some mechanical resistance properties on wood-based surfaces

The aim of this study was to determine the usability of selected natural dye extracts as environmentally friendly colorants that are used in painting of MDF based furniture and evaluate their resistance to scratch resistance, adhesion resistance, and surface hardness properties. In this study, the water-based lacquer coatings were prepared with natural dyes obtained from purple cabbage ( Brassica oleracea ), safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius ), Red beetroot ( Beta vulgaris ) and three synthetic paints that were black, blue and light blue as a comparison. Coated MDF test panels used for evaluation of performances of dyes to abiotic factors that are determined by mechanical tests such as scratch resistance, adhesion resistance, and surface hardness. As a result of the study, it has been observed that, except for scratch resistance, natural dyes perform as well as synthetic ones as alternative colorants in the lacquer coatings. Thus, natural and aesthetic raw materials that are environmentally friendly dyes can be used safely especially in children’s furniture and for wood-based products that are especially used indoors.