BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT97-3781 - Improving the performance and adhesion properties of wood-coatings with the use of flame ionisation technology (FLAME)

FAIR-CT97-3781
Improving the performance and adhesion properties of wood-coatings with the use of flame ionisation technology (FLAME)

Contacts
Further Information

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FAIR Area 1.3 - Forestry-Wood Chain : Solid Wood Products : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	FAIR-CT97-3781
	Total Cost	990 731 ECU
	EC Contribution	549 966 ECU
	Start Date	01/06/1998
	Duration	36 months

Improving the performance and adhesion properties of wood-coatings with the use of flame ionisation technology (FLAME)

Objectives

Flame ionisation is a process used in the plastics and automotive industries to improve the bonding of adhesives and inks to car panels and plastic containers. It is a process that involves passing a substrate intended for coating under a flame for which the physical parameters are strictly controlled. The process causes a number of surface changes to occur which have the effect of increasing the surface energy of the substrate and promoting better film-forming and adhesion properties of applied coatings. The technique is used with considerable success commercially, though not yet on wood substrates. The technology is seen as a natural choice for the joinery manufacturing industry in enhancing the performance of exterior surface coatings to timber by increasing the adhesion properties of existing coatings without need for further reformulation. The technology is simple and cost-effective to use, making it suited to wood manufacturing processes and one that can be integrated easily into a complex in-line manufacturing system with minimum disruption. The key driver for this work is the need to improve the performance of coatings for wooden joinery to a level where they can compete more effectively against windows manufactured from substrates such as aluminium and PVCu.

Technical Approach

The objective of this project is to improve the long-term performance of factory finished joinery components for exterior use using flame ionisation technology.

Within this overall objective there are a number of specific sub-objectives that relate directly to different stages in the 'raw-material to market' chain, as follows:

to develop a technique optimised for specific timber species using existing flame-ionisation technology in order to improve the wettability and adhesion properties of wood coatings to softwood and hardwood species of commercial importance
to assess the influence of substrate variables in order to establish optimised 'process templates' for individual species
to relate changes in the surface properties of solid wood substrates after flame ionisation, with their effects on long-term (exposure) performance of wood coatings
to verify and quantify the beneficial effects of the treatment on a range of commercially important softwood and hardwood species of timber
to assess the commercial viability of the technique as part of an in-line factory process

The research programme will examine the specific difficulties associated with the use of flame ionisation on wood and wood substrates. First variables most likely to influence the surface activity of wood surfaces will be identified. Next, optimum equipment settings for specific timber species will be developed. These parameters will be used as a basis for process templates for specific hardwoods and softwoods in commercial operations. Verification of laboratory results by performance testing will follow and work will culminate in a feasibility study of the flame plasma technique when used in an actual manufacturing process.

The project consists of 5 tasks:

Task 1.1 Examination of the effects of timber processing variables on the benefits of the flame treatment process.

Task 1.2 Investigation into the ability of flame treatment to improve topcoat/basecoat adhesion and preservative penetration.

Task 2.1 Species-specific activation using flame plasma treatment.

Task 2.2 Investigations into the long-term persistence of enhanced wetting and the effects of timber pretreatment.

Task 3. Assessment of long- and short-term adhesion properties of coated, flame-activated wood surfaces.

Task 4. Validation of the benefits of surface activation with long-term weathering and QUV trials.

Task 5.1 A logistic study of flame-ionisation as part of a joinery manufacturing process.

Task 5.2 Cost analysis for joinery industries

Applications

The research satisfies a market and consumer need to produce coated wooden joinery systems capable of competing in performance with alternatives perceived as being longer-lived. The project will address this requirement primarily through an improvement at the materials processing stage of the raw materials to market chain and is therefore best placed to make the greatest market impact at a stage where low-cost technical input can have far-reaching benefits.

Flame ionisation technology

Contacts

Coordinator

Peter M KACZMAR / TRADA Technology Limited UNITED KINGDOM

EC Scientific Officer

Alexandros ARABATZIS / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant