Nanoparticle-based impregnation coatings for wood : improving hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and blue stain fungi resistance through structure–property relationship

Paul, Dabosmita (author), Humar, Miha (author), Tesařová, Daniela (author), Petrič, Marko (author), Gaff, Milan (author)

Wood is an organic material that is highly susceptible to moisture, which compromises its performance, accelerates decay, and promotes mould growth, thereby reducing its service life. This study presents a comparative assessment of cost-effective solutions for enhancing the hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and blue-stain resistance of wood surfaces by evaluating the effects of silicon dioxide (SiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and titanium dioxide (TiO2) particle coatings on Scots pine wood. Low-concentration particles were applied via an impregnation coating method, resulting in the formation of a nanocomposite between the wood and the particles. The coated and uncoated samples were then exposed to blue-stain fungi. To further analyse the effects, the exposed samples were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyse particle morphology and observe fungal colonisation, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to determine elemental distribution. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm interactions between the nanoparticles and wood components. Mechanical and physical tests were conducted to evaluate the durability and resistance of the coated wood against blue-stain fungi. The results showed a significant improvement in surface hydrophobicity following coating application, which remained stable even after exposure to fungi. Moreover, distinct differences in fungal resistance were observed among the nanoparticle types, with ZnO showing the highest effectiveness. A new approach was also introduced to assess the mechanical performance of the coatings. This study offers insight into nanoparticle coatings as a sustainable strategy for enhancing wood surfaces in construction and outdoor furniture applications.

• Language: English
• Keywords: building materials, coatings, wood protection, nanomaterial, nanoparticles, durability
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 13381–13397
• Numbering: Vol. 60
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171195
• UDC: 630*8
• ISSN on article: 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-025-11247-0
• COBISS.SI-ID: 244866051
• Publication date in RUL: 19.08.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of materials science
• Shortened title: J. Mater. Sci.
• Publisher: Kluwer
• ISSN: 1573-4803
• COBISS.SI-ID: 513194009

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: gradbeni materiali, premazi, zaščita lesa, nanomateriali, nanodelci, odpornost lesa

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J7-50231-2024
• Name: GROWTH: Rastni potencial in lastnosti lesa izbranih drevesnih vrst različnih provenienc: možnosti zaščite z modifikacijo in izzivi pri odzivanju na podnebne spremembe

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0015-2020
• Name: Les in lignocelulozni kompoziti