Proper protection is crucial for extending the lifespan of wood, especially in demanding applications such as boat building. It is advisable to clean the surface of wood before applying a coating, typically using either natural or synthetic solvents. One alternative for removing impurities from wood surfaces is the use of nonthermal plasma, such as with the diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) method. To test the effectiveness of this approach, boards made from European beech, Scots pine sapwood, and Norway spruce were cleaned with plasma, turpentine and a petroleum-based solvent before applying two types of boat coatings. The samples were then exposed to natural conditions for one year. During this time, colour and gloss were measured every three months to assess the coating properties and the impact of the surface cleaning method on the durability of the tested coatings. The results indicated that the surface cleaning method used before coating did not impact the durability or visual properties of the selected coating. DCSBD plasma could therefore be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to wood pretreatment.
|