Analysis of sanding parameters on surface properties and coating performance of red oak wood

ABSTRACT

Sanding is the most common machining process used to prepare wood surfaces prior to coating. Hence, to improve surface quality and coating performance during this process, an optimal set of machining parameters should be established according to wood species and its final use. The effects of grit size and feed speed on surface properties and coating performance of red oak wood were studied. Surface quality was assessed by surface roughness, scanning electron micrographs, and wetting analyses. Coating performance was evaluated using pull-off adhesion tests on coated surfaces before and after an accelerated weathering. The results showed that smoother surfaces are obtained as the grit size number of the abrasive increased. On the other hand, minor differences were observed on cell damages and surface roughness as feed speed changed. Also, there was little difference among treatments concerning wetting behavior and surface energy. Pull-off strength was more affected by changes in grit size than feed speed. A P100-grit size program with a feed speed of 7 m/min resulted in a suitable roughness which provided good adhesion and high pull-off strength after aging test.

KEYWORDS:

• Feed speed
• grit size
• surface quality
• aging test
• adhesion evaluation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Luc Germain and Daniel Bourgault for valuable assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).