Hydrophobic and UV-resistant properties of environmentally friendly nano-ZnO-coated wood

Abstract

Abstract The combinations of nano-ZnO with wood through simple and efficient physical methods to prepare environmentally friendly and versatile Nano-ZnO-coated Wood have important research and practical implications. In this paper, an environmentally friendly nano-ZnO-coated wood was prepared by physical magnetron sputtering using Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongholica Litv. The micro-characteristics, structure, wettability and colour change of the ZnO-coated wood were characterized and studied. For samples with a sputtering time of more than 3 min, the surface water contact angle exceeded 130° and had good hydrophobic properties. After a 168 h accelerated ultraviolet (UV) ageing test, the total colour difference (ΔE ∗) of the sample with a sputtering time of 75 min (200 °C) was 77% lower than that of the original wood. When the substrate was at 200 °C, the ZnO films deposited on the surface of the wood were evenly and densely arranged, forming almost a continuous film. It could be seen that the deposition of a nano-ZnO film on the surface of wood could significantly improve its hydrophobic properties and anti-UV photochromic properties.