DCSBD plasma treatment as an alternative to commercial surface degreasing agents before applying wood coatings

In recent years, research has focused on eco-friendly techniques to find alternatives to traditional methods to reduce environmental impact. This paper examines three wood degreasing methods and their impact on two different wood coatings. Conventionally used turpentine and petroleum-based solvents were compared with an environmentally friendly diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) plasma treatment for degreasing soft and hardwoods. The effect of plasma degreasing technique was tested on an antifouling paint (both with and without epoxy primer) and on a polyurethane varnish made from a modified alkyd resin. To evaluate degreasing methods on varnishes over time, accelerated artificial ageing was conducted for 240 h. Gloss, colour, ATR FT-IR and pull-off adhesion strength test measurements were taken for evaluation. All samples showed darkening and a loss of gloss after undergoing artificial weathering, with the most significant colour changes observed within the first 120 h. ATR FT-IR analysis indicated no significant differences in the coatings based on the degreasing method used. The degreasing technique did not impact the adhesive strength of the tested coatings. This confirms that plasma degreasing is just as effective as traditional methods and does not notably affect the appearance of the coating. These results show that plasma degreasing not only performs on par with solvent-based methods but also provides a solvent-free and sustainable alternative. This emphasises the innovation and environmental advantages of using DCSBD plasma for preparing wood surfaces. The method demonstrates significant potential for industrial implementation.