Surface coating and interfacial properties of hot-waxed wood using modified polyethylene wax

The beeswax used in Chinese traditional hot waxing is expensive and has relatively scarce resources. To provide a low-cost alternative and expand the applications of hot waxing for wood repair and protection, polyethylene wax grafted with maleic anhydride and methyl methacrylate was used for the hot waxing treatment of wood. The surface/interface between wax and wood was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the effects of hot waxing temperature and time on the surface roughness and gloss, hydrophobicity, adhesion and thermal stability of treated wood were studied. The properties were compared with those of wood hot waxed with beeswax. The results showed that the modified polyethylene wax filled the wood cell lumina, cross-linked with the wood matrix, and formed a smooth and continuous wax layer on the wood surface. This greatly reduced the wood surface roughness and improved surface gloss. The hydrophobicity and thermal stability of wood were also improved, and the wax layer adhered well to the wood. When used to hot wax wood samples at 180 ℃ for 40 min, the wood modified with polyethylene wax achieved superior gloss, adhesion, and thermal stability to the wood treated with beeswax.