Hydrophobization of Oak Wood Surface with Stearic Acid

It was planned to study the surface properties of the oak wood coated with stearic acid and post-heated in press and oven to compare it with a coated surface with typical resin Killer-Sealler polyester to indicate any effects of the stearic acid on wood surface. The properties; as contact angle as well as color changes of the oak wood were studied and determined in the current research work. Those properties were determined before and after ten days of leaching tests to reveal resistance of the stearic acid on wood. FTIR spectroscopy was carried out on wood surface to detect any reaction with wood surface. The results revealed that wood surface became hydrophobic due to coating with stearic acid and post-heating with hot press as well as oven in comparison with the typical resin. The use of the stearic acid caused increase of the water contact angle in beech wood. Any assessment of the hydrophobicity resistance of treated samples indicated no reduction of the contact angle and protection of the wood surface against water even after leaching test. It was also revealed that color changes due to coating with stearic was less than that of other coating agents after coating and also after leaching tests.