Wood is a versatile material used in interior finishing, furniture manufacturing, architecture and commercial projects, among other applications. High-quality wooden surfaces combine a distinctive appearance and feel with functional material properties. During everyday use, wooden surfaces may come into contact with moisture, stains and dirt. Depending on the type of wood, the condition and prior treatment of the surface, and the intended use, these factors may alter its appearance.
The functional surface technologies developed by nanopool are designed to provide suitable wooden surfaces with water- and dirt-repellent properties. Depending on the substrate and application, the treatment can help protect the surface during everyday use and make it easier to clean.
Water beads off, grain and character preserved.
Moisture and stains penetrate the open surface.
NP® Liquid Glass Technology forms an ultra-thin, transparent functional layer on suitable wooden surfaces.
The treatment provides the surface with water- and dirt-repellent properties while minimising any effect on the wood’s distinctive grain and appearance. As wood is a natural material and variations exist between species, shades, previous treatments and surface conditions, we generally recommend testing the product on an inconspicuous area or reference sample.
The functional layer can help reduce the penetration of water-based liquids into the treated surface and facilitate the removal of certain types of everyday dirt. The specific performance achieved depends particularly on the product used, the type of wood, any previous treatment, the application quantity and the conditions of use.
Depending on the substrate and specific application, nanopool technology can support the following functions:
Suitability and the resulting finish must be assessed for the particular type of wood, previous treatment and intended use. This applies especially to painted, oiled, varnished, heavily weathered or otherwise pre-treated surfaces.
Selected properties of an NP® coating for natural wooden surfaces have been examined by independent institutes.
The examinations included requirements applicable to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, as well as changes in the water contact angle following defined abrasive exposure.
The results demonstrate that the NP® Liquid Glass technology largely maintains its water-repellent properties even under mechanical stress. Tests confirm that the protective effect remains detectable even after 1,000 abrasive brush cycles. At the same time, the tests confirm compliance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 and the German Food and Consumer Goods Act (LFGB).
Overview of the Available Test Results
The results relate to the particular test materials, coatings and test conditions examined. They cannot be applied to every type of wood, product variant or condition of use without an application-specific assessment.
Depending on the material, previous treatment and intended use, nanopool surface technologies may be assessed for use on the following wooden surfaces, among others:
The surface must be suitable for the particular coating, clean and appropriately prepared. A separate suitability assessment is required before application to wood that has already been painted, oiled or varnished, or that is heavily weathered or soiled.
Potential areas of application include:
The appropriate coating and application method must be determined on the basis of the type of wood, any existing surface treatment and the anticipated subsequent exposure.
For natural wooden surfaces, preserving the original appearance as far as possible is often a priority. The transparent functional layer is designed to minimise any effect on the wood’s distinctive grain and appearance. Due to the natural differences between types of wood, the visual result should be assessed on a sample before application to the entire surface.
Depending on the substrate, use and cleaning method, the functional treatment of suitable wooden surfaces may offer the following practical benefits:
Whether cleaning intervals can be extended or the consumption of water and cleaning agents reduced depends on the particular application and the cleaning regime in place. Any such effects should therefore be tested and documented under actual conditions of use.
Our solutions are intended particularly for:
The transparent NP® functional layer is designed to minimise any alteration to the wood’s distinctive grain and appearance. As wood is a natural material and may respond differently to coatings, we recommend applying the product to a test area before use.
The coating is applied to the surface as an ultra-thin functional layer. Its effect on the structure, colour and feel of the wood depends on the type of wood, previous surface treatment and application quantity. The result should therefore be assessed on the original material in advance.
Confirmation from an independent institute is available for one tested NP® coating. According to this confirmation, the tested coating met the specified requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Sections 30 and 31 of the German Food, Commodities and Feed Code (LFGB).
The confirmation relates to the tested coating and the test conditions applied. Whether a specific finished product is suitable and legally compliant for its intended food-contact application must be assessed on the basis of the complete material combination, the application and the respective conditions of use.
In a test conducted by an institute, an initial water contact angle of 109.3° was measured on the NP®-coated test surface. After 1,000 abrasive brushing cycles using natural bristles, the measured contact angle was 89.8°. The water-repellent property therefore remained detectable under the test conditions examined, although it had decreased compared with the initial value.
The results apply to the tested material and the test conditions used. Resistance in a specific application depends on the type and intensity of the actual exposure.
The water- and dirt-repellent properties can make suitable treated surfaces easier to clean. Whether, and to what extent, cleaning requirements, water consumption or the use of cleaning agents can be reduced depends on the particular application, the type of dirt and the cleaning method.
Protection against moisture and certain types of dirt can help preserve the functional properties of a suitable wooden surface. This does not constitute a guarantee of any specific extension of its service life or lifespan. These depend, among other factors, on the type of wood, construction, previous treatment, weather exposure, mechanical stress, maintenance and correct application.
This must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Paints, varnishes, oils, waxes, cleaning residues, dirt or severe weathering may affect the wetting, absorption and adhesion of the coating. A clean, suitable and professionally prepared surface is essential for a reproducible result.
Tell us about your wood project. We advise manufacturers, joineries, architects and operators on the right protection concept for natural wood surfaces.
