Wettability of waterborne coatings on chemically and thermally modified pine wood

Modification of wood can change its hydrophilic character. Consequently, modified wettability of wood can change its behavior with coating or gluing processes. The authors investigated the wettability of oil-heat-treated and DMDHEU-modified Scots pine wood with some commercial waterborne coatings. The increased hydrophobic character of modified wood was revealed from high advancing contact angles of water. In contrast, exterior waterborne coatings exhibited much better wetting on modified substrates than on unmodified substrates. Good wetting of modified wood by waterborne coatings is an interesting result, opening up possibilities for application of environmentally friendly waterborne surface systems on modified wood.