Preparation of hydrophobic coating by phytic acid-based hybrid complexes to enhance the surface property of wood

ABSTRACTIn this report, we present a simple and rapid method for fabricating a hydrophobic coating of Phytic Acid-based hybrid complexes on wood surfaces to enhance their properties. This hydrophobic coating's micro/nanoscale coarse structure is constructed from a PA-Fe3+ coordination complex, and its low surface energy is further modified by impregnation with octadecylamine. Polyethyleneimine serves as an intermediate layer, tightly binding the wood to the PA-Fe3+ coordination complex. We characterized the microstructure, chemical composition, water contact angle, and anti-mold properties of the wood samples using SEM-EDS, FTIR, water contact angle tests, and anti-fungal tests. Further, we assessed the hydrophobic coating's chemical and environmental durability, contamination resistance, self-cleaning properties, and mechanical stability on composite wood. SEM-EDS and FT-IR mapping results confirmed that the PEI and PA-Fe3+ coordination complex were successfully coated on the wood surface, with long-chain octadecylamine grafted onto the complex particles. The composite wood with a 3-layer hydrophobic coating demonstrated superior surface properties, including a water contact angle of 145°, excellent chemical and environmental durability, contamination resistance, self-cleaning properties, and mechanical stability. Notably, it also exhibited superior anti-mold properties compared to the control.KEYWORDS: Woodphytic acid-based complexeshydrophobic surfaceself-cleaning propertyanti-mildew property AcknowledegementsLongchao Ma: Writing. Yihan Zhao: Data analysis. Tao Zhang: Draw the picture. Xinzhou Wang: Conceptualization. Meiling Chen: Polishing. Liang Chen: Funding. Yanjun Li: Funding.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementData will be made available on request.Additional informationFundingThe authors are grateful for financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 31971740), The "13th Five Year Plan" National Key R&D Program Project "Integration and Demonstration of Green and Efficient Planting and Breeding Technology for Chinese Fir in Rongshui County" (2022YFD1100104).