Objective
The objective of the research is to generate knowledge in order to improve the performance and durability of modern paints with low organic solvent content for window joinery made from European wood species. The research has been divided into four parts, in which the most essential factors affecting the performance of modern joinery finishes on wood are studied :
1) The resistance of modern paints against different climatic stresses.
2) The protection ability of the modern paints on wood against moisture.
3) The interfacial phenomena of paint and wood, and
4) The resistance of modern paints to blue-stain and mould.
Although the studies can be divided into groups, they are closely related to each other. In the first part, the ability of a developed CEN method (TC 139/WG2 paints and varnishes for exterior use) for natural weathering to simulate the performance of different national window structures under various climatic stresses in addition to durability of modern paints is tested. In particular, the moisture permeability properties and penetration ability of water-borne finishes have been found to differ from those of the solvent-borne paints and their influence on the performance of the paints is of the utmost importance (task 2&3). Part 4 is justified due to the lack of earlier knowledge about the resistance of modern paints to blue-stain fungi or mould.
The results will be utilized by the joinery and paint industry in their research and development work. The building sector and consumers can also use the knowledge about performance when choosing window materials.
The Geneva Convention and the later drafts for the directive to reduce solvent emissions have directed and will direct the further development of paints for industrial use with less organic solvents. In addition, the markets for architectural solvent-borne paints may be controlled by taxes on products which contain harmful organic solvents. Therefore new kinds of paints with less or no solvents, like water-borne or high-solid finishes, have been developed. The properties of those paints are more incompletely known than those of conventional solvent-borne paints. In particular, the performance and durability of the paints and their ability to protect the underlying wood have been studied poorly. However, confidence in the durability properties of wooden window joinery painted with the modern finishes is the foundation for the competitiveness of those windows against plastic and aluminium windows that are based on non-renewable resources.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
02151 ESPOO
Finland