Hydrophobic Effect of Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Nanocoating on Wooden Materials

Abstract

A major limitation of wooden building materials is their high susceptibility to water absorption and, as a result, rot from mold and mildew growth. Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Nanocoating (SCHN) offers a long-term solution through its use of a sol gel solution to apply the formation of a hydrophobic matrix onto the surface of wood. A sol-gel solution is a liquid mixture of chemical precursors that undergo hydrolysis and condensation reactions to form a solid network (gel). Wooden materials coated with SCHN display a significant resistance to the absorption of water, and, as a result, mold infestation. SCHN also contains metallic nanoparticles with high solar reflectance that impart a dye onto the wood to offer enhanced protection against damage accumulated from prolonged light exposure, as is expected in outdoor environments. This paper aims to develop a simplified approach towards improving water repellency and reducing the water adsorption capacity of wood treated with Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Nanocoating (SCHN) in sol-gel solution. The findings indicate that the CaraProTM sol-gel provides the most significant protection, with a 68.5% reduction in water uptake compared to the control. In biological resistance trials, the coating demonstrated a consistent ability to inhibit the growth 118 of Aureobasidium pullulans, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium, by successfully maintaining the wood below the minimum level of moisture required for fungi to colonize the surface. These results suggest that the application of SCHN provides a functional mechanism for controlling the supply of water and moisture, thus mitigating the primary factors behind structural instability and decay.