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The specialised division „wood surfaces“ focuses on the properties of surfaces and coatings of wood in interior and exterior applications. Coatings for sidings, balconies, fences, deckings, wooden windows, wood-aluminium windows, doors, furniture, wooden floors and wall and ceilings claddings are covered.
R&D projects are being carried out in order to develop transparent coating systems for wood in exterior applications (Brightwood Project), as well as making use of new nano technology to gain surface hyddrophobicity of wood as well as technical processes for achieving greying of wood surfaces (Greywood Project)
Coatings for wooden windows
The aim is to optimize the moisture management in wooden windows by means of coatings and other measures, to develop coating systems for protected window designs (wood/aluminium window) as well as concepts for care, maintenance and repair of coatings.
Coatings for wood sidings and balconies
The main focus of this work lies on the weathering resistence, the maintenance and repair or resistence exterior wood coatings as well as on the influence of coatings on the moisture management in wood structures. In this context, recommendations are also given for the selection of coating systems and on how to consider coatings in calculations pertaining to building physics.
Furniture surfaces
Research focuses on the chemical resistance of furniture coatings and the prevention of colour changes due to photochemical reactions on wood surfaces.
Wood flooring
For sealing materials as well as for wood surfaces finished with oils or waxes, criteria were developed for ensuring quality, the resistance against wheels of castor chairs and the lateral adhesion between flooring elements.
The specialised division „wood surfaces“ is accredited to perform testing of coatings and coating materials for wood surfaces. The following test methods are included (selected methods, other tests can be performed upon request):
Wood in exterior applications:
Furniture surfaces:
Wood flooring:
Expert’s reports cover analysis of defects on wood surfaces and coatings during their manufacturing and utilisation. Expert’s reports are prepared on the basis of an assessment of facts at the site and/or laboratory testing of defective surfaces as well as of laboratoring applied coatings prepared to match the defective system.
For products, expert’s reports are prepared in accordance with the guidelines of Austrian Environmental Label UZ01 for lacquers, translucent coatings and sealing materials for wooden floors.
Defects and composition of coatings, wood-based materials etc. are analyzed by means of light and scanning electron microscopy.
Several options are at our disposal for surface analysis, among them: