Preparation and properties of anti-weathering and superhydrophobic wood based on palm wax in polydimethylsilane nanocomposite coating.

The superhydrophobic coating on wood surface is an effective method to improve the durability and service life of wood. In this paper, dodecyl modified gas-phase nano-SiO2 particles (M-SiO2), polydimethylsilane-trimethoxysilane ends (PDMS-Ts), palm wax, γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (KH560), and isopropyl titanate (TTIP) were blended and sprayed on the surface of wood by a simple one-step method at room temperature. The superhydrophobic modified wood has a water contact angle (WCA) of 161.2° and a sliding angle (SA) of less than 3°, demonstrating excellent anti-fouling, self-cleaning, and durability properties. Specifically, after undergoing various durability tests, including sandpaper abrasion (15 cycles), finger abrasion (30 cycles), sand impact (90 cycles), tape peeling (70 cycles), and chemical stability tests (24 h immersion in acidic and alkaline environments), the wood surface maintained its superhydrophobicity. Importantly, the wood's color remained virtually unchanged after superhydrophobic modification, preserving its inherent aesthetic properties. Moreover, after 768 h of artificial weathering, the color difference (ΔE*) of the modified wood was only 4.35, indicating excellent color stability, with the water contact angle remaining largely unchanged. Notably, the modified wood significantly delayed the combustion time and maintained its superhydrophobic properties after combustion tests. This study presents a novel method to achieve superhydrophobicity, weathering resistance, and flame retardancy in wood, offering new insights for the protection of wood used in outdoor applications.