Treatment of wood with siloxanes and metal micro-particle deposition using plasma technology

Plasma treatment is a novel and promising technolgy in the field of wood surface modification. Deposition of micro-particles on wood surfaces by means of plasma is an interesting approach to enhance wood properties and thus, to extend the service life of wood products. On the other hand, several silicone fomulations have been already shown to cause excellent water repellence and interaction with cell wall components, beside to impart high chenical and weathering stability as well as biological resistance in treated wood. Based on that, this study focussed on both treatments seperately in an initial stage of the research; followed by the combination, in a two-step treatment, of vacuum-pressure impregnation of solid wook with siloxanes and additional copper deposition on wood surface using atmostpheric pressure plasma.