Nano-AgCu Alloy on Wood Surface for Mold Resistance

Research Progress on the Improvement of Flame Retardancy, Hydrophobicity, and Antibacterial Properties of Wood Surfaces

Wood-based materials are multifunctional green and environmentally friendly natural construction materials, and are widely used in decorative building materials. For this reason, a lot of research has been carried out to develop new and innovative wood surface improvements and make wood more appealing through features such as fire-retardancy, hydrophobicity, and antibacterial properties. To improve the performance of wood, more and more attention is being paid to the functioning of the surface. Understanding and mastering technology to improve the surface functionality of wood opens up new possibilities for developing multifunctional and high-performance materials. Examples of these techniques are ion crosslinking modification and coating modification. Researchers have been trying to make wooden surfaces more practical for the past century. This study has gradually gained popularity in the field of wood material science over the last 10 years. This paper provides an experimental reference for research on wood surface functionalization and summarizes the most current advancements in hydrophobic, antibacterial, and flame-retardant research on wood surfaces.

1-Tetradecanol, Diethyl Phthalate and Tween 80 Assist in the Formation of Thermo-Responsive Azoxystrobin Nanoparticles

The occurrence of crop fungal diseases is closely related to warm environmental conditions. In order to control the release of fungicides in response to warm conditions, and enhance the efficacy, a series of thermo-responsive fungicide-loaded nanoparticles were developed. The fungicide azoxystrobin, solvent DEP, emulsifier Tween 80 and thermo-responsive component TDA were combined to create thermal-response oil phases, conditions for emulsification were then optimized. LDLS, zeta potential, FTIR, DSC, TGA, XRD, SEM and antifungal efficacy assays were carried out to investigate the characteristics and forming mechanism. The results indicated that the formula with 5 g azoxystrobin, 10 mL DEP, 6 mL Tween 80 and 2.5 g TDA constructed the proposed oil phase with the ability to transform from solid at 20 °C to softerned at 31.5 °C. Both DEP and TDA played key roles in interfering with the crystallization of azoxystrobin. The optimal T3t-c12 nanoparticles had a mean particle size of 162.1 nm, thermo-responsive morphological transformation between 20 °C and 30 °C, AZO crystal reforming after drying, the ability to attach to fungal spores and satisfied antifungal efficacy against P. nicotiana PNgz07 and A. niger A1513 at 30 °C. This report provides referable technical support for the construction of smart-release nanoparticles of other agrochemicals.

Antifungal Agents in Wood Protection—A Review

The biodegradation of wood and wood products caused by fungi is recognized as one of the most significant problems worldwide. To extend the service life of wood products, wood is treated with preservatives, often with inorganic compounds or synthetic pesticides that have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the development of new, environmentally friendly wood preservatives is being carried out in research centers around the world. The search for natural, plant, or animal derivatives as well as obtaining synthetic compounds that will be safe for humans and do not pollute the environment, while at the same time present biological activity is crucial in terms of environmental protection. The review paper presents information in the literature on the substances and chemical compounds of natural origin (plant and animal derivatives) and synthetic compounds with a low environmental impact, showing antifungal properties, used in research on the ecological protection of wood. The review includes literature reports on the potential application of various antifungal agents including plant extracts, alkaloids, essential oils and their components, propolis extract, chitosan, ionic liquids, silicon compounds, and nanoparticles as well as their combinations.