Impregnations for wood by types and methods of application

Wood is an environmentally friendly, visually attractive material that is used in construction. Despite its advantages, this raw material also has disadvantages - it is susceptible to fire, fungi, mold, moisture, and insects. To avoid all these problems, impregnation of wood against moisture and rot is used. Universal protective solutions can prevent weathering and biological damage to wood. There are many impregnations for wooden materials, let's look at all the varieties of these products, their prices, consumption, advantages and disadvantages.

Impregnation with antiseptics. It is very important not to forget about safety precautions during such impregnation.

Why process wood?

Wood is a natural material that needs protective treatment from external negative influences. A wooden structure, be it a house or a bathhouse, must be treated with protective compounds. Then the wooden structure will serve you for a long time, without bringing any unpleasant “surprises”. Protective compounds must be applied both externally and internally.

The negative impacts on wood from inside the room are, of course, not as aggressive as outside. However, the wood still needs to be processed. In this article we will tell you what internal impregnations exist to protect wood.

Boiling in alkali and pressing made the wood much stronger

Wood structure after treatment
Jianwei Song et al. / Nature, 2018

Researchers have learned to increase the strength of wood by boiling wooden blocks in an alkaline solution and pressing them. After this procedure, the bars become five times thinner and 11.5 times stronger, reports the journal Nature

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Not all materials scientists develop new materials from scratch, synthesizing them artificially. Some people prefer to take existing natural materials as a basis and improve their characteristics in various ways. Wood, one of the most common natural materials, is often used as a base. For example, last year, scientists created a composite analogue of a spider's web, consisting of 90 percent cellulose nanofibers extracted from wood.

Researchers led by Liangbing Hu from the University of Maryland also took wood as a basis and developed a method that increases its strength by an order of magnitude. It consists of two main stages. First, the wooden blocks are placed in a boiling solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite and boiled for seven hours. After this, they are washed several times with boiling deionized water and the remaining solution is removed. This treatment leaves almost all of the cellulose fibers in the wood, but removes most of the surrounding lignin and hemicellulose. Due to this, the wood becomes more porous and less rigid.

After this, the wood blocks are pressed at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. Tests by researchers on oak and linden bars showed that their thickness decreases five times and their density increases three times, while without removing lignin and hemicelluloses, the density changes much less.

Photos and microstructures of wood before and after treatment

Jianwei Song et al. / Nature, 2018

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In addition, scientists tested the mechanical properties of the treated wood. It turned out that after treatment, the strength of linden increases 11.5 times from 52 to 587 megapascals. The researchers were able to strengthen oak bars to similar values ​​(608 megapascals), but their strength was initially twice as strong. This strength is comparable to many grades of stainless steel. In addition, the specific strength of such wood turned out to be noticeably higher than that of many alloys, for example, 1.7 times higher than that of the titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V.

The scientists analyzed the structure using a scanning microscope and found that, unlike compressed wood, from which lignin and hemicelluloses were not removed, in treated wood, the cellulose structures become much closer and intertwined when pressed.

In 2021, this group of researchers created another wood-based material in a similar way. Instead of pressing the wood after cooking, they filled it with epoxy resin, which removed air from the cavities inside the wood and made it transparent.

Grigory Kopiev

Selection of internal impregnations to protect wood

The huge selection of different products available in hardware stores for protecting wood can be confusing. What exactly composition do you need and how to choose it? How to get a good protection result and not overpay for useless materials.

Depending on what functions the impregnation should perform in a particular case and what results need to be achieved, the choice of product should be based.

Which impregnation is better

A wide range of products can make choosing in favor of any one difficult, so you need to immediately distinguish between the desired effects and the composition. In addition, the correct use of liquids for interior or exterior work is important.

For interior work

When choosing an impregnation for treating wood that will be or has already been installed indoors, first of all, pay attention to the environmental friendliness and safety of the solution. These requirements are met by water-based products containing natural solvents and oils.

Conventionally, all products in this line can be divided into 3 groups :

• antiseptics, which are designed to protect against rotting, mold and mildew, temperature changes, changes in shape and color;
• moisture-proof, which are used to treat baths to protect the array from constant exposure to high temperatures and moisture;
• fire retardant, significantly or completely reducing the risk of fire.

For outdoor use

When processing wood that will constantly be outdoors and exposed to various harmful and atmospheric factors , it is recommended to use more aggressive impregnations. At the same time, harm to health and environmental friendliness, due to the work being carried out outdoors, fade into the background.

First of all, antiseptic impregnation is used, which will not only prevent various microorganisms from living and multiplying in the structure of the tree, destroying it, but will also preserve its appearance, since during the life of bacteria and fungi the material turns black.

If the surface has previously been given the desired shade, the impregnation should protect against ultraviolet radiation.

Important! The most caustic impregnations are bitumen. Mixtures are used to treat load-bearing structures. After their application, the tree is not afraid of either moisture or attacks by microorganisms. Even rodents are not afraid of him.

Types of impregnations for interior wood processing

Depending on the type of protection, impregnations can be divided into three groups. These are antiseptics, impregnations for baths and other rooms with high humidity, and fire retardants called fire retardants.

• Fire retardants are designed to reduce the flammability of wood.
• Antiseptics resist the effects of temperature changes, pests, mold, and rot.
• Products for treating wood with high levels of humidity and strong temperature changes (baths, saunas, etc.) protect against these effects

Classification depending on the purpose of application

To process wood, a composition is purchased taking into account the geographical and climatic conditions of operation of the wooden structure, the factors affecting it and its color are studied.

Antiseptic

The impregnating material is aimed at preserving the integrity of the wood structure - an antiseptic. It provides a barrier to microorganisms, fungus, and mold. The composition belongs to the biocidal group, its main components extinguish the activity of biological organisms. The need for antiseptic treatment appears both indoors and outdoors.

Leader brand of the antiseptic group: Antiseptic “VIDARON IMPREGNAT”, natural teak (V05), 2.5 l, Russia, price 25, l – 480 rubles.

Fire protection

Impregnations that protect against the spread of fire are used to treat areas at risk of fire: roof partitions of the building, partitions between floors. Fire retardant compounds affect the structure of wood and its color. Material consumption depends on the structure of the wooden base. On average, 300-600 grams are used per 1 m2. Recommended for use:

Fire-retardant impregnation for wood OgnebioZashchita colorless 10 kg Capital, price 2813 rubles.

Frost resistance

Frost-resistant compounds are used to treat wood outdoors. They are not afraid of temperature changes, low temperatures below zero to -40°C.

Popular protective material: ALPA Polyfluid 5l, country of origin: Russia, price 4,250 rubles.

Ability to repel water

In rooms with high humidity, water-repellent impregnations are used to protect wood from rotting. The composition in demand in this group:

FORWOOD Glazing antiseptic for wood 10 kg, price 1672 rubles.

To give wood a tint

Impregnations with decorative properties are applied to the surface after treatment with an antiseptic. The wood structure acquires hydrophobic qualities. The shade is chosen independently. To prevent the impregnating material from fading quickly outdoors, it is recommended to opt for dark colors.

Popular decorative compositions include: Veres Eco Lazura, glazing antiseptic for wood, 2.5 l, price 1,660 rubles.

Universal formulations

The impregnating composition performs many functions: protection from fire, from mold, and prevents cracking and drying out of the wooden structure.

The leader among complex impregnations: Tikkurila Valtti Pohjuste / Tikkurila Valtti Primer Pohjuste primer-antiseptic, price for 0.9 l container - 650 rubles.

The basis of impregnations for external wood processing

Impregnations on the modern market are presented on the following bases:

• Water based
• Organic solvents
• Oil base
• Resin based

Let's take a closer look at each type of impregnation.

Water-based wood impregnation composition

Such compositions are absolutely harmless to humans and penetrate perfectly into the composition of wood. Thus, providing good protection from external influences. Water-based impregnations are applied using a brush or spray. The drying time of the impregnations is very short, about two to three hours. It is just not advisable to use water-based impregnations on very dry wood. Such impregnation can lead to swelling of dry wood.

TOP 5 impregnations

Examples of impregnations produced on the Russian market. Let's look at which mixture is in demand.

PINOTEX INTERIOR

In first place is one of the safest impregnations for the environment and human health. It is water-based, manufactured in Estonia. The main active ingredient is alkyd water-soluble resin. After complete drying, it forms an invisible thin film that protects against insects, moisture and harmful microscopic organisms. The impregnation is very convenient to use; it can be diluted with water to obtain the required concentration.

The mixture has low consumption; only 1 liter of product will be needed for 16 m2. According to the experience of specialists, an average of 1.3-1.6 liters of standard mixture is consumed per 16 m2. This is one of the best indicators. If the timber is not processed, then the consumption of the mixture will be 2 times greater. After application, you will need to wait at least 12 hours until completely dry. The cost of a bucket of PINOTEX INTERIOR impregnation (9 liters) is 4,150 rubles.

Tikkurila Supi Saunasuoja

A mixture based on acrylate resin, manufactured by Finns.

Like the previous one, this impregnation forms a film that prevents moisture from entering, and it also performs protective functions. The composition is water soluble. The manufacturer promises that the consumption will be 1 liter of impregnation per 8-10 m2, in reality it is 1 liter per 6-7 m2. An important advantage is that the surface of the film repels dust, thereby preventing it from settling on the surface of the wood, and also prevents the accumulation of lumps of dirt. A heavily soiled surface will still need to be manually cleaned first. The surface can be easily washed after the treatment process. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that you must not touch the treated surface, because there is a high probability of damaging the film. The cost of a bucket with a capacity of 9 liters is 4,633 rubles.

Aquatex Extra

A specialized composition of a Russian manufacturing company, which includes an organic solvent, a universal impregnation for wood against rotting and moisture.

Advantages:

• Reduces the risk of microorganism growth, is an antiseptic;
• The composition includes paraffin and natural wax, which protect the wood from moisture.

A film formed from wax and paraffin prevents the wood from absorbing moisture. The service life of the resulting film is 5 years or more. Consumption according to the manufacturer is 1 liter per 15-16 m2, in reality 1 liter is enough for approximately 12-13 m2. Safety precautions are such that work should be carried out wearing protective gloves and a respirator. Avoid getting the impregnation on the mucous membranes and skin, and if this happens, rinse immediately under running water. You can only work in a well-ventilated area. The price of this impregnation product is 3,745 rubles per bucket with a volume of 9 liters.

Ecohouse "BIO"

An excellent antiseptic and a budget option for working with natural wood. The price of this composition will pleasantly surprise you; for 10 liters of this miracle product you will pay only 474 rubles. Like the above compounds, this impregnation is a protective agent against fungal colonies and insects, but one of the disadvantages is the inability to repel moisture from the surface. The product is used moderately, 0.3-0.4 liters per 1 m2.

Oil-based wood impregnation composition

Oil-based compositions are absolutely safe for human health. Suitable for both internal and external impregnation of wood. Application of oil impregnations is possible with a brush and a special spray gun (spray gun) for oil paints. In general, oil impregnation is the most durable protection among other types of impregnation. Oil impregnation protects wood from moisture and protects the color of the wood.

Resin-based impregnation composition

It is difficult to call such a product an impregnation; rather, it is a protective film that also protects the wood from external influences. Resin-based, various wood varnishes are available on the market.

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Impregnation for wood is

Impregnation is a special composition that is used to treat wood building materials in order to prevent it from rotting, protect it from moisture and fire, as well as from insect pests. In other words, impregnation treatment is necessary to extend the life of wooden products (Lumber, lumber products).

Note: The impregnation composition is usually applied with a brush (Painting work, types of brushes) or using a spray gun (Painting walls with a spray gun, the best spray gun).

Applying impregnation to a wooden surface

Impregnation properties

The properties of the impregnation depend on the special components added to it. It can be:

• fungicides – prevent the development of mold and mildew;
• flame retardants - prevent fire;
• hydrophobic substances – protect the material from moisture;
• coloring pigments – give the material the desired shade;
• salts of some metals – protect the surface from exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Note: Depending on the composition of the impregnation agent, it can be water-based or organic-based.

Making your own impregnation

If you decide to prepare an antiseptic yourself, you need to remember that the mixture can only be used for external use. During cooking, the following safety precautions must be observed:

• perform work exclusively outdoors;
• no smoking;
• do not eat or drink;
• After work, wash your hands, rinse your mouth, and wash your face.

Be sure to use personal protective equipment:

• protective clothing;
• gloves;
• respirator;
• If possible, use safety glasses.

Recipe for bitumen impregnation for wood

To prepare, you will need a metal container of sufficiently large volume and a stirring device with a long handle.

Procedure:

1. Place the bitumen in a container and heat it over the fire, stirring constantly.
2. Remove the container with liquid bitumen from the heat and cool slightly
3. Add diesel fuel or gasoline in portions to the resulting thick, homogeneous mass. The ratio of gasoline and bitumen is 1:3.
4. The composition is applied with a brush to the surface to be treated.

Since the homemade composition hardens quickly, it cannot be stored and is prepared separately for each processing.

The building materials market offers a huge variety of impregnations for solid wood and wooden products. They have different characteristics and parameters, different protection periods, application methods, and different prices. A clear understanding of the goals and objectives of wood processing and our article will help you make the right choice.

Types of impregnations by purpose

Impregnating compositions for wood differ in purpose. Their use directly depends on the type and chemical properties of the components. Before choosing one brand or another, you should decide on the goals you are pursuing when impregnating the wood.

Antiseptics

Antiseptic impregnation for wood, in addition to protection, brightens and bleaches the surface of the wood, which is important if the board is covered with dark spots of mold. Antiseptic treatment will help disinfect surfaces and prevent the appearance of fungus and rot in the future.

Examples of antiseptics:

1. Prosept 50. For interior and exterior work.
2. Senezh Effo. Eco-friendly, economical consumption.
3. Fongifluid Alpa. Prolonged protection, treatment with this composition increases paint adhesion.

Fire protection

Wood is a flammable material. Preventive treatment with substances that inhibit combustion - fire retardants - will help prevent trouble. Most often, roofs and ceilings are impregnated with similar compounds. The protective effect must be confirmed by a certificate.

The most popular fire-retardant impregnations: Senezh Ognebio and Ognebio Prof for external treatment. The universal compounds Pirilax, Neomid 450 are used to treat log buildings and frame buildings.

Frost resistance

Wood treated with special compounds can easily withstand the most extreme temperatures without damage. The active substances of the impregnations Alpa Polyfluid, TekSturol Bioprotection, NORTH KRASULA and others prevent the destruction of wood.

Water repellent effect

Wood impregnation with a water-repellent effect helps protect wood from excess moisture. Untreated wood absorbs water like a sponge, as a result it becomes an excellent environment for the life of bacteria and fungi that cause rotting, the geometry of products changes, and strength and elasticity are lost.

Water-repellent impregnations:

1. Senezh Ultra. The manufacturer guarantees three-level protection against dampness. Can be used as a primer.
2. Valtti Akvacolor. Toning, oil-based. Used on facades, gazebos, terraces and other buildings constructed in humid regions.
3. NEOMID 430 ECO. Long-term protection against very high humidity. It has a strong odor and gives the wood a greenish tint.

Decorative properties

Decorative wood impregnations are used not just to protect the wood, but also to change or adjust the color and emphasize the texture of the wood. Often such compositions are used as regular paint.

The following brands deserve special love and trust:

1. Luxury Decor. Acrylic, for facade work.
2. Sitex. In addition to decorative properties, it provides protection from moisture for 5 years. For interior and exterior use.
3. Valtti Akvacolor. Facade, with a rich palette of shades.

Complex impregnations

Currently, an integrated approach to wood processing is increasingly being implemented. It's faster and cheaper. Instead of treating the building in several layers, giving the wood the desired properties, you can apply complex impregnation, simultaneously providing moisture, fire and bioprotection.

The most popular complex impregnations:

1. Contains wax. Excellent protection against moisture, grease, and solutions. Prevents the appearance of mold and unicellular algae. The protection period is 5-7 years.
2. Prosept Sauna. Antiseptic, developed specifically for use in saunas and baths.

Main types by composition

The composition of wood impregnation determines its properties. In addition to the base, there are various additives that further improve the properties.

Water-soluble and oil-based

Water-based impregnation has the following advantages:

• practically no smell;
• harmless to humans and animals;
• dry quickly;
• can be applied to damp wood.

Water-based formulations have some disadvantages:

• the composition penetrates the wood to a shallow depth;
• cannot be applied in the rain;
• provides only superficial protection to wood.

Oil-based impregnations protect well from moisture, penetrating deeply into the wood structure, and also protect the wood from drying out and cracking. Such compositions are used to treat outdoor wooden furniture and structures exposed to precipitation. As a result of processing, the surface of the product becomes glossy.

Oil impregnations are flammable, treatment with them must be repeated annually, in addition, no other composition can be applied after oil impregnation.

Solvent based

These compounds are designed specifically for treating building facades. They form an elastic film on the treated surface that protects against moisture. They are also used as primers.

Alkyd and acrylic

Oils, waxes, and antiseptics are added to impregnations based on alkyd resins, which allows them to be classified as complex. The disadvantage of this type is the long drying time. By treating wood with alkyd impregnation, we achieve the following results:

• emphasize the texture of the wood;
• We provide mechanical protection;
• save from mold, algae;
• protect from moisture.

Acrylic impregnations are used as decorative and protective. Their advantages:

• no smell;
• dry quickly;
• harmless and environmentally friendly;
• impart water resistance to the surface;
• strengthen the wood structure;
• prevent rotting;
• increase the service life of the tree.

The main disadvantage of acrylic impregnating compositions is that they do not tolerate low temperatures.

Salt and bitumen based

Salt impregnations are sold ready-made and in powder form. Such preparations protect rafter systems from fungus and pests. Crystals and salts remaining on the surface of the rafters after treatment significantly reduce the risk of fire.

It is most effective to treat with salt impregnations by soaking or applying in a vacuum chamber. Complex application methods significantly narrow the scope of their use.

Bitumen-based impregnation is a thick black mass. This mixture is usually homemade and can only be used for outdoor work. Highly toxic, has a strong unpleasant odor. Suitable for processing any type of wood. Forms a dense protective layer that provides almost 100% protection against moisture, mold, algae, and insects. Bitumen is flammable, so treatment with it increases the flammability of protected structures.