Recoating performance of fresh and weathered wood surfaces through atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge plasma activation

Žigon, Jure (author), Pavlič, Matjaž (author), Kovač, Janez (author), Straže, Aleš (author)

This study investigated the effectiveness of non-thermal atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma activation on the recoating performance of fresh and weathered spruce wood surfaces, examining both uncoated and coated samples exposed to natural weathering. Results showed that film-forming coatings effectively preserved the wood’s aesthetic appearance, despite slight darkening after recoating. Plasma treatment induced significant chemical changes, creating oxygen-containing functional groups that improved surface activation and wettability. The highest hydrophilicity occurred on uncoated, plasma-treated surfaces, where water droplets disappeared within 60 seconds. Plasma also reduced the initial contact angle of water droplets on surfaces coated with waterborne and solventborne film-forming coatings and Tung oil, enhancing their performance. Weathering increased surface roughness, especially in uncoated samples and those with Tung oil, while solventborne and waterborne coatings offered better resistance to photodegradation. Microscopic analysis of recoated samples confirmed that film-forming coatings protected the wood from discoloration and cracking, although weathering weakened their adhesion. Tung oil recoating provided better long-term hydrophobicity for fresh surfaces, unaffected by plasma pre-treatment. Overall, atmospheric plasma activation was found to be an effective, sustainable pretreatment method that enhanced recoating performance, particularly for film-forming coatings, and extended the durability of coated wood products exposed to environmental conditions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: re-use, coating, timber, finishing, surface activation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 1148–1163
• Numbering: Vol. 21, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181945
• UDC: 630*8
• ISSN on article: 1748-0280
• DOI: 10.1080/17480272.2025.2470381
• COBISS.SI-ID: 227929091
• Publication date in RUL: 20.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Wood material science & engineering
• Shortened title: Wood mater. sci. eng
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1748-0280
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522172953

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: ponovna uporaba, premaz, les, površinska obdelava, aktivacija površin