Photocurable resin/microcrystalline cellulose composites for wood protection: Physical-mechanical characterization

tPhotocurable composites based on a UV-light curable methacrylic-siloxane resin formulation and variousconcentrations (5 ÷ 20 wt%) of microcrystalline cellulose powder (MCC) were prepared and characterizedto assess their suitability as protective coatings for wooden artworks. Dynamic mechanical thermal anal-ysis highlighted that MCC promoted an enhancement of both storage and loss moduli and a decrease ofthe thermal expansion coefficient. Interestingly, the flexure elastic modulus and the flexure maximumstress of the neat photoresin increased upon the filler addition without any embrittling effect. An incre-ment of hydrophobicity (contact angle), surface hardness (Shore D and pencil scratch tests) of the neatUV-light cured matrix even at the lowest filler loading was observed. These promising results suggestthat the photo-curable microcomposites could be able to recover the mechanical and physical proper-ties of damaged wood and replace the traditional resins soluble in toxic solvents utilized in this kind ofrestoration works.