Wood stabilization: advantages, processing methods and protective compounds. How to stabilize wood at home - methods and procedures Normalized wood

Stabilization of wood is a method of processing, as a result of which a tree is given higher strength and improves its decorative qualities, while maintaining its natural pattern.

After processing, the wood receives:

• high density;
• Hardness;
• Resistance to changes in temperature and humidity of the environment;
• Complete immunity to ultraviolet rays;
• The ability to withstand brief heating by an open flame without losing its quality characteristics and without deforming;
• Impervious to various oils;
• Resistance to organic solvents;
• Excellent decorative properties - stabilized wood lends itself well to manual and mechanical processing.

This type of wood processing has a second name - conservation. This name is justified because the main goal of this process is to preserve the best decorative qualities of wood with increased strength and hardness. This effect is achieved by filling the pores with a special substance that has the ability to harden. Used as an impregnation different kinds oils, most often linen, as well as varnishes, paints, polymer impregnations and resins.

Due to the complete impregnation with the coloring solution, the stabilized wood is stained not only outside, but also inside. Coloring can be natural or using different colors.

To obtain a high-quality stabilized material, you will have to spend a lot of time, money and work hard. Create the necessary temperature regime, vacuum and a certain level of pressure at home is quite difficult, and without this it will not be possible to stabilize.

The first stage of work is the selection the right material. Usually stabilize wood with beautiful texture and overflows, in particular, these are burls of deciduous species of wood: birch, maple, elm, chestnut.

The next step is impregnation. Exist different types and impregnation methods:

• For workpieces of small thickness, cold impregnation is used;
• Hot impregnation is soaking or boiling in hot impregnating compounds. As you know, when hot, they acquire a more liquid consistency, fluidity and penetrating power increase significantly;
• Vacuum method - air is pumped out of the chamber into which the workpieces are placed, and the one that is in the wood itself comes out with it. Then a solution is poured, which easily fills the liberated pores and capillaries of the wood;
• Impregnation under the influence overpressure- a stabilizing solution is poured into a special container and the workpiece is placed in it. The container, in turn, is placed in a special chamber, and excess pressure is created in it. In this case, air escapes from the workpiece, and the solution takes its place.

Vacuum method

hot way

The final stage is polymerization. It is achieved by thoroughly drying the workpiece at a certain temperature. Some special formulations have the property of self-hardening. The treated wood becomes much heavier, its color changes significantly, and the new properties that it acquires as a result of processing are more like those of a polymer. However, wood fibers practically do not change their qualities, they reinforce the polymer composition, as it were, giving the entire workpiece the appearance of a noble tree species.

Use stabilized wood to make unique crafts handmade. It is very common to use such wood in the manufacture of knife handles, especially for exclusive options.

Methods for stabilizing wood at home

Stabilization using Anacrol-90

For conservation, an impregnating compound Anacrol 90 is required, which hardens at an air temperature of 90 degrees Celsius. First you need to assemble a vacuum installation, for which you will need: large plastic containers, taps and tubes, Vacuum pump and a compressor, as well as a pressure gauge to determine the pressure force. To dry the workpiece, you can use an oven, air grill or a special oven.

Stabilization of wood with Anacrol-90 with the addition of color pigment

As a blank, take a plate of dry hardwood, for example, poplar. The thickness of the plate is not more than 3 cm, the size should also not be large - our task is to completely impregnate this workpiece with anacrol, and when large sizes make it much more difficult.

The process itself is as follows:

1. We place the workpiece in a flask with anacrol so that the entire workpiece is covered with a solution;
2. We create a vacuum until the moment when air bubbles stop being released;
3. We give the solution to settle for twenty minutes or a little less, and after that we create excess pressure in the flask. To do this, we use a compressor and a pump. The pressure should reach 2-4 atm;
4. We take a break for half an hour and repeat the whole process again.

According to the state of the workpiece, we look at how many times these actions need to be repeated. The end of the impregnation can be judged by whether the workpiece will sink in water or not. If it sinks, then the impregnation was successful.

Further processing consists in the complete drying of the workpiece, which for this we place in an oven with a temperature of 100 degrees. The dried workpiece does not contain wet spots.

As a result of such processing, our workpiece will become denser and much better accept polishing. If colored pigment is added to anacrol, then an interesting colored pattern can be obtained. You can purchase colored types of anacrol, then you don’t have to conjure with pigments.

1. Process principle
2. Main advantages of processing
3. Epoxy resin treatment
4. oil impregnation

The technology is designed to create completely new materials with the desired characteristics. It is well known to craftsmen who often work with methyl methacrylate polymer and other bases that give wood strength. The article describes the intricacies of such a process.

Process principle

This processing method is a conservation that gives the tree endurance and high strength while maintaining the decorative qualities of the original material. Stabilizing wood means filling its pores with products that can polymerize or harden. These are paints, oils, resins and varnishes. The technology is complex, but if you strictly follow it and be careful, you can get strong and beautiful wood that is resistant to negative factors. Decor items made from it will serve their owners for many years without losing their properties.

Processing Benefits

Preserved wood outperforms untreated wood in decorative and technical specifications. Its structure becomes dense, resistance to temperature fluctuations and humidity increase, properties are added that extend the operational period of products. The stabilizing composition makes the material inaccessible to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. In the case of a short contact of wood with an open fire, the wood stabilization polymer retains all its characteristics unchanged.

Material of natural origin after processing is not impregnated with oil and becomes impervious to organics and solvents. Preservation shows the decorative qualities of lumber, it becomes much easier to work with it. Valuable and durable rocks tend to age and collapse over time. Oak or ash are deformed, dry out or, conversely, swell from dampness, and a stabilized tree is reliably protected from wear, which is due to polymers.

Technological stabilization process

To properly stabilize natural material and to get the desired result, you will need a special approach, albeit at home. First of all, it is necessary to ensure the temperature regime, pressure level and vacuum. The master will need components for the preparation of a stabilizing composition or a finished product - anacrol or methyl methacrylate.

Very often blanks are used for the production decorative elements and souvenirs, therefore Special attention is given to the texture with a beautiful natural pattern. From hardwoods: chestnut, birch and maple - they make caskets, knife handles, figurines, furniture details.

Stabilization of wood at home begins with the impregnation of pieces of material with methyl methacrylate. There are several types and technologies of impregnation. A workpiece of small thickness is impregnated by a cold method. At hot impregnation the workpiece is boiled or soaked in a heated composition. When heated, the consistency of the products changes, the impregnation becomes more liquid - its penetrating ability increases, and this is what is needed.

The vacuum stabilization method is also used. The workpiece is sent to the chamber, from which the air is pumped out according to the technology, including the one that is in the material. Then methyl methacrylate or other agents of a similar action are poured in, penetrating deep into the pores of the natural material.

Wood is preserved by pressure impregnation. The workpiece is dipped into the agent and sent to the chamber together with the container. Under pressure, air is squeezed out of the pores, and the solution fills its place.

The main technological condition required during stabilization is the strengthening of wood fibers - polymerization. For the workpiece, the temperature regime at which it is dried is maintained. There are products on the market that not only harden themselves, but also give the material the desired shade. The material is, as it were, reinforced, becomes more massive, acquires a noble color and improves performance.

Phased processing of wood "Anacrol"

The popular Anacrol agent is included in the vacuum preservation technology. To properly assemble the vacuum unit, the master will need plastic containers, pipes and taps. You will need a vacuum pump and compressor. These two units are the main elements of a homemade system.

Pressure control is carried out using a pressure gauge, and as a drying oven with high power and even an air grill is allowed.

It is better to start with a small piece of well-dried deciduous tree to make it easier to work. The thickness of the workpiece should not exceed 30 mm. The length is chosen small.

The workpiece is completely immersed in the composition, poured into the flask. Then vacuum conditions are created in it until the formation of air bubbles stops. Now you need time to insist, about 20-30 minutes. Then an excess pressure of 2–4 atmospheres is created in the flask. To do this, include a compressor and a pump. The tree is allowed to “rest” for about half an hour, and the process is repeated until the workpiece begins to sink.

At the end, it is dried at 100 ˚C. After

oil impregnation

If methyl methacrylate or epoxies aren't your thing, you can make the process simple by using hemp, flax, or walnut oil. Their protective property is not so pronounced, it is better to use a vacuum installation to enhance it, although you can do without it by immersing a piece of wood in oil for a couple of weeks. If you plan to stabilize the tree yourself in order to make a decorative piece out of it - a carved flower or a figurine, read detailed description process, you can watch a thematic video to consolidate the information.

Today is our big day! Just yesterday we collected it and today we will try it. Along the way, we will consider impregnations that are popular today and answer the question: “How to stabilize wood at home?”. And most importantly, let's get acquainted with the stabilization process "live".

I will say right away that in order to stabilize wood, it is not necessary to have a vacuum chamber and other related equipment available. On the this moment on the Web it is easy to find sellers offering modern polymer impregnations that independently and easily penetrate into the pores of the workpiece. To stabilize in such solutions, it is necessary to immerse the workpiece in them and leave it ... for 1.5-2 weeks (!). The only condition is that the wood must be sufficiently dry, and the material itself must be sufficiently porous. Solid woods cannot be stabilized in this way.

We will check today if this is true. And we stabilize the walnut bars in two ways - using a vacuum chamber and without. But if in the first case we will see the result today, then in the absence of vacuum equipment, the result will have to wait.

So we come to the most important thing, namely the review of modern and popular polymer impregnations presented today on the Web.

• "Anacrol"

This is an impregnating composition based on dimethacrylic polyester, which at a temperature of (95 ± 5) ºС quickly polymerizes to form a thermosetting polymer. This composition was developed to seal micropores and microcracks, prevent internal corrosion in ferrous and non-ferrous metal products obtained by casting or powder metallurgy.

However, high penetrating power, non-shrinking polymerization and the final properties of the resulting polymer, namely: its high strength and chemical resistance, in combination with operating temperatures from -60 ºС to +180 ºС, made it very interesting application Anacrol-90 and for stabilization/preservation of wood.

Website: http://www.a-germetik.ru/

• "100 term"

It's transparent liquid agent for stabilization of four thermoset polymers with a simplified reaction of transition to a solid state; a tool created specifically for the highest quality stabilization of wood, horn and other natural materials.

100TERM is easy to use both within the walls of a professional laboratory and in an amateur workshop.

Effective non-toxic agent for safe impregnation and stabilization (wood, textile, paper, carbon fiber, fiberglass, leather, horn, fur, cones, corn leaves, etc.)

Website: http://100term.ru/

• Buravid

Wood stabilization polymer. Private development. To be honest, we haven't tried it yet. It is implemented through the VK group, you can also see examples of stabilization based on Buravid there.

Website: https://vk.com/buravid

What else can you do to stabilize wood?

There are a lot of options. You can use:

• any oils that can polymerize: linseed, poppy, walnut, hemp, acacia;
• natural wax: bees, carnauba;
• resin digestion conifers;
• varnishes, drying oil, epoxy resin.

All of the above compositions will answer your question: “How to stabilize wood at home?”

The process, which we will consider below, is based on vacuum impregnation with the Anacrol impregnation composition, and is also suitable for impregnation with other polymers and natural oils.

Let's proceed directly to the stabilization process

How do we know that in both cases the stabilization process was successful?

• Firstly, in case of successful impregnation, the bars must be completely immersed in the solution, i.e. drown in it.

In the meantime, they swim freely with us)

• Secondly, we will control the quality of the impregnation by weighing the bars before impregnation, after impregnation and after polymerization of the compositions.
• Thirdly, the final stabilization process, namely the drying and curing of the polymer, we will perform different ways: in the oven and by boiling in boiling water.
• Fourthly, we will make products from the obtained material, namely the handles of knives and see if they differ visually.

All results, as always, will be available in our regular column .

Go!

Our experimental material is four walnut bars. Input data:

• Bar #1: initial weight 122 gr; stabilization in the composition of "Anacrol" (without dye); soaking in polymer without using vacuum equipment 1.5 weeks; the final process

• Bar #2: initial weight 116 gr; stabilization in the composition of "Anacrol" (without dye); soaking in polymer without using vacuum equipment 1.5 weeks; the final process

• Bar #3: initial weight 112 gr; stabilization in the composition of "Anacrol" (dye - red) using vacuum equipment; the final process oven at 100 degrees Celsius for 1.5 hours.

• Bar #4: initial weight 110 gr; stabilization in the composition of "Anacrol" (dye - brown) using vacuum equipment; the final process boiling in boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius for 1.5 hours.

Why do we weigh bars? Not only to understand that the wood has absorbed the composition. If you plan to engage in commercial stabilization, then by weighing the bar “before and after”, determine how much it has absorbed the impregnating composition, thereby obtaining one of its cost values.

For our purposes, we will use the same plastic containers, which we will number in accordance with the marking of the bars.

Stage 1

1. We immerse the bars with No. 1 and No. 2 in Anacrol
2. We leave for 1.5 weeks.

In essence, wood stabilization is its preservation - it is a processing process that provides the highest strength and improvement external qualities material. In the process of stabilization, all the capillaries and voids of the tree get rid of air and are impregnated with specialized compounds. To a greater extent, such processing of wood species is in demand in the manufacture of knife handles and in the production of various decorative items.

Do-it-yourself wood stabilization at home will significantly save money, since such material is not produced on an industrial scale, and craftsmen who privately preserve or polymerize wood value their services very expensively. This process is quite complicated, but if you approach the matter with all responsibility and follow everything step by step in accordance with the instructions, you will end up with high-quality beautiful material.

What is needed to stabilize wood with your own hands

First of all, it should be noted that such wood processing as stabilization has a number of advantages:

• the material becomes much more dense and wear-resistant;
• humidity, temperature changes and exposure to sunlight are not terrible for stabilized wood;
• such a tree is not exposed to oils and various organic solvents;
• withstands up to 250 °C;
• such material is easy to process and has a respectable appearance.

To perform stabilization with your own hands, you will need a certain material for impregnation, and which one you will decide for yourself. It can be:

• Anacrol 90 is an impregnating composition that hardens at a temperature of 90 °C.
• Oil - it can be poppy, and nut, and linseed, and in general any oil that has the ability to harden (polymerize).
• Wax - absolutely any will do, both natural and with additives.
• Resin (coniferous resin) - in this case, the wood is boiled down.
• All kinds of artificial compounds - this includes paints, varnishes, liquid plastics, etc., the main criterion is hardening upon drying.

How do-it-yourself wood stabilization is performed

So, the very procedure for stabilizing or preserving wood consists of two stages - impregnation, and then polymerization. There are several impregnation methods:

1. Vacuum method - the wood blank is immersed in a special container, from which air is subsequently pumped out. Then the container is filled with one of the selected solutions.
2. Preservation under the action of excess pressure involves the presence of a special chamber in which a container with a solution and wood is placed. Under influence high pressure the pores and capillaries of the tree are freed from air and filled with a solution.
3. Boiling or aging method. Cooking or holding wood in a hot composition is based on the fact that under the influence of high temperature, the impregnating composition becomes much more fluid, and, accordingly, it penetrates into the wood much easier. If the workpiece is very thin, it is enough to keep it in a cold solution.

Polymerization, on the other hand, involves high-quality drying of the material, which is either left on long time in a dark place, or dried in an oven or oven.

Wood is one of the most demanded building and decorative materials. However, some applications require higher material performance parameters. This applies to strength and resistance to negative external influences.

To improve the basic parameters of the material, there are special processing technologies, one of which is wood stabilization. It allows you to create durable, practical and attractive materials with unique characteristics.

Benefits of the procedure

Stabilization is special kind wood processing, which provides for the safe filling of pores with protective compounds.

Its main goal is to maintain decorative properties wood with an increase in strength, hardness and resistance to external factors. A similar effect is achieved through the use of special compounds that have the ability to polymerize.

This is a rather time-consuming and responsible process, the organization of which must be approached with all responsibility and the sequence of actions must be observed in accordance with the chosen technology.

Thanks to conservation, wood acquires the following characteristics:

• density and hardness;
• resistance to high moisture, temperature extremes and ultraviolet;
• fire resistance;
• impermeability to paints and varnishes;
• resistance to chemical and biological effects;
• inertness to deformation and decay;
• decorative and aesthetic;
• susceptibility to manual and mechanical processing.

Ways

The technological process of wood stabilization is divided into two stages - impregnation and polymerization.

Depending on the type, size and quality of the raw material, as well as taking into account your own capabilities and preferences, wood can be stabilized in the following ways:

1. Cold impregnation. Most affordable way stabilization of small blanks, which involves soaking wood in a cold composition. The duration of impregnation is from 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the type of feedstock. Various oils are used as preservative compositions - walnut, tung, hemp and linseed.
2. Hot impregnation. Difficult option conservation of bulk wood products. The duration of impregnation can be up to 2-3 days and provides more deep penetration hot compounds into wood fibers.
3. Vacuum treatment. A similar processing method involves the use of a vacuum chamber. The pumping out of air from the chamber is accompanied by the removal of the existing liquid from the wooden blank placed inside. Next, a stabilizing solution is fed into the chamber, which is designed to fill the open pores of the wood.
4. Pressure treatment. This method is similar to the previous one, the difference lies in the fact that wood preservation is carried out using high pressure, and not vacuum. A wooden blank is placed in a container with liquid and installed in the chamber. Under the influence of high pressure, air is removed from the pores, and the voids are filled with a polymerizing composition.

Stabilizing compounds for wood

Many masters who wish to master the technology of preserving wood products at home are interested in the main question - how to stabilize wood?

There are many effective means, which are used for similar purposes:

• oils,
• paint compositions,
• epoxy resins
• liquid glass,
• brine,
• drying oils,
• Birch juice,
• compositions for vacuum processing,
• polymers.

Epoxy resin

Often used to stabilize wood epoxy resin. To increase the fluidity, the composition is recommended to be diluted with alcohol. The technology for stabilizing wood with a protective epoxy resin is similar to that suitable for working with polymer components.

Despite the availability and ease of application, epoxy resin has some disadvantages. The main ones are: the duration of polymerization and the likelihood of boiling in vacuum chamber. In addition, such a tool is not suitable for the conservation of coniferous wood.

Liquid glass

In the process of processing wood with liquid glass, a thin layer is formed on the surface. protective film resistant to other dyes. For this reason, liquid glass is often used to stabilize structural elements or decorative items, which are not subject to further processing protective compounds.

Liquid glass, or silicate glue, provides reliable protection from infection by mold, fungus and pathogenic microorganisms. Compared to others antiseptic formulations it is resistant to high moisture, ultraviolet and high temperatures.

Brine

Less popular for stabilizing wood is a saline solution. To prepare it, you need 1 tbsp. l. salt and liter cold water. Processing of a wooden blank is carried out by boiling for 2-3 hours.

Many experts argue that such a preservation agent can be used after preparing a certain workpiece or wood product.

Drying oil

The main components of drying oil are vegetable oils, subjected heat treatment. Preliminary heating of oils increases their resistance to increased moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Special solvent as part of drying oil, it increases viscosity and ductility, which makes it possible to use it for the preparation of putty and primer mixtures, varnishes and paints.

Drying oil is widely used for processing wooden structures, decorative elements and tools. It provides reliable protection against decay, destruction and deformation. To stabilize the tree indoors, it is better to use natural drying oil; for outdoor work, composite and alkyd compounds are suitable.

Composition for the vacuum chamber

Used for vacuum chamber special compound to stabilize wood. This technology of saturation (impregnation) ensures the depth of penetration protective agent from 0.3 to 5 cm, depending on the type of wood, while the pressure in the vacuum chamber can reach 12 kg / sq. cm.

The specialized sealed device has impressive dimensions: length - up to 15 meters, diameter - from 0.5 to 3 meters. It is equipped with a special tank for stabilizing solutions, inlet valves, pressure sensors and a control unit.

The duration of one saturation cycle can be from 3 to 6 hours.

Birch juice

No less popular is the conservation of wood with natural birch sap. The workpiece is exposed to the composition in a vacuum chamber, and then dried at a temperature of 90 degrees.

To prepare a stabilizing solution, various dyes are added to birch sap.

Polymers

Often, modern polymer-based impregnations are used to stabilize wood. The most requested of them are:

"Anacrol-90"

Polyester impregnation for wood, which, under the influence of high temperatures, turns into a thermosetting polymer. Due to its high strength, resistance to chemical attack and temperature changes, the composition is widely used for the preservation of small cracks and pores in wood.

"100term"

Transparent liquid composition based on thermosetting polymeric components is intended for reliable preservation of wood. It is convenient and easy to use, suitable for industrial and home applications.

Buravid

Transparent polymer composition, including optical pigments, which is intended for the polymerization of wood. It resembles water in viscosity and density, but when exposed to temperature, it turns into a solid coating. Provides protection against moisture, ultraviolet radiation, biological contamination, emphasizes the natural structure of wood fibers.

"Pentacryl"

Alkyd-based enamel with the addition of dyes and fat-soluble pigments. Designed to stabilize wood inside and out. The processed material has unique properties polymers, but at the same time remains natural and safe, like wood.

Unstabilized wood is prone to changes in the internal structure and color, deformation and cracking. If the material is used for internal decorative finishes, then this problem is especially relevant. You can buy ready-made stabilized wood, the cost of which will be much higher than that of the raw material. And you can save money by organizing the conservation process yourself with the help of available protective equipment.

For these purposes, you can use ready-made polymer compositions - Pentacryl, Anacrol 90 and others - or prepare them yourself.

Impregnation compositions should be chosen with a small margin, because some of the product will be used for test work, after which you can start preserving the wooden workpiece or product.

The right choice of protective agent for a particular type of wood and compliance with the steps technological process will allow you to get the desired result.