Lately, especially in terms of ecology, felt a great need to expand the uses of wood. However, it is limited by the small wood resistance to UV rays and moisture. In order to improve the surface of wood, a new technique can be used for its’ modification – surface treatment by plasma. It has not been possible to use plasma for the generation of a vacuum for the long time in the industry. Whenever possible to generate plasma at atmospheric pressure, it has become possible to apply in practice. It is a success in metals, textiles, plastics industries, but due to lack of research, this method is not yet been used in the wood-working industry. As the plasma exposure of wood surface is only at the stage of research (lack of data on the effects of plasma sustainability impacts on different types of wood and wood products, homogeneity of processing, etc.), these studies are innovative and necessary.
Wood surface treatment by atmospheric pressure plasma is completely environmentally friendly, requiring low power consumption; devices are durable and can be easily implemented in machining lines. Depending on plasma technology that is used, it is possible to obtain more hydrophilic (to improve adhesion of the coating) or hydrophobic (moisture resistance increase) wood surface, where neither mechanical properties neither color does not change after treatment. The paper studied the wetting angle changes of the wood surface witch was exposed by an atmospheric pressure plasma, and whilst the estimated potential of plasma technology in timber industry.
Keywords: wood, modification, plasma
Authors
Dicevičiūtė D.
Department of Wood Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas
Ukvalbergienė K.
Department of Wood Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas
Marcinauskas L.
Department of Physics,Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas
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