Deep-Matte Wood Coatings with Improved Burnish Resistance

By Hossein Riazi, Michael Peck

Matting of clear wood coatings is a critical aspect in capturing the natural beauty of the substrate and appealing to consumer demands. Maintaining this visual appearance is vital to coating during product lifespan, and with deep-matte finishes, resistance to burnish and polishing is of particular concern. Recent work has identified interesting synergies of a matting technology that pairs the efficiency and clarity of silica matting agents with the physical durability and protective ability of organic particles. The plastic deformation and energy dissipation of these particles resist polishing forces and protect the matting structure of the silica. This combination has shown excellent synergy and allows formulation of durable deep-matte finishes with excellent burnish resistance. There are also significant benefits in reduced viscosity build at high matting-agent levels. This article will review the technical details of the synergy and characteristics in different wood coating systems.