Treatments and Modifications to Improve Surface Properties of Wood and Wood-Based Materials

Dear Colleagues,

Wood has been attracting increasing amounts of attention due to its use as a renewable material with a wide range of applications. Even though there are limitations that bind the application of wood, there are some methods of modification to improve wood’s properties. Surface modification can improve some physical and mechanical properties of wood and wood-based composites, such as hydrophobization, dimensional stability, hardness, flame retardance as well as anti-fouling to pollutants. Although a lot of work regarding the possible usage and treatment of wood has been done, new wood modification solutions to assure the improvement of wood properties and functionality is still under consideration.

The goal of this Special Issue is to provide new findings in surface modification of wood and lignocellulosic materials. Taking into account the current development state of new modification techniques and research methods, it is necessary to understand the deep mechanisms and to explore some potential ideas in the modification process. Thus, also the current state of knowledge in these areas needs to be analyzed.

In particular, the topics of interest include (but are not limited) to the following:

• Ecological modifiers and modification processes wood and wood-based composites surface being harmless to humans and the environment
• Surface preparation, texturing techniques and experimental processing with new methods on surface treatments and characterizations
• Wettability of wood and wood-based materials and their treated surfaces properties of modified wood-based surface, including weathering studies, resistance to abiotic and biotic factors, measurement of different deterioration parameters
• Optical techniques, spectroscopical and surface analytical methods

I am looking forward to receiving your contribution.

Dr. Agnieszka Jankowska
Guest Editor

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