Enhancement of the Weathering Resistance of Heat-Treated Wood: Surface Deposition of Zn Nanoparticles by Electrochemical Activation

Heat-treated wood is a type of commercial product that is widely applied outdoors. However, degradation and discoloration of heat-treated wood commonly result from natural weathering. Herein, an effective and facile approach is reported for improving the antiweathering performance of heat-treated wood. With the application of a high voltage electrostatic field, Zn particles were triggered and grafted in situ with wood constituents. According to the morphological and chemical analysis, Zn particles reacted with lignin and were effectively deposited on the surface of the cell wall. The crystallite size of the Zn particles formed by electrochemical activation was approximately 15 nm, which was particularly suitable for enhancing the hydrophobicity of the heat-treated wood. Based on the results of the artificial and natural weathering tests, metal activation showed improved weathering resistance. After the metal activation, heat-treated wood had fewer chromaticity changes and less surface roughness, which surpassed the performance of the original heat-treated wood. The findings of this study show that electrochemical activation is an efficient strategy for improving the weathering resistance of heat-treated wood and has potential for the targeted design and manufacture of sustainable wood products.