Wood Finishes and Stains
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T FEBRUARY 2005 WOOD FINISHES AND STAINS The overall market for wood finishes -- coatings which, unlike paint, do not completely mask the wood’s appearance -- has been grow- ing, along with the demand for environmentally preferable wood REPORfinishes. The demand for finishes for wood furniture, floors, and fixtures has increased from 82 million gallons to 100 million gallons over the last 5 years. About $2 billion in wood finishes were sold in 2004. his increased demand toxicity in household and building for wood coatings has products, manufacturers of wood T been driven by favorable coatings are offering many more housing markets fueled products that are low in by low interest rates, the volatile organic compounds trend toward larger, more (VOCs) and formulated expensive homes, and an without aromatic solvents, increase in homeowners heavy metals, or cancer- improving and redecorating causing chemicals. These their dwellings, inside and products are healthier for out. At the same time, the users of these products decorating trends that focus – namely, workers on new on the warmth and beauty of home construction projects and wood in the form of exposed wood do-it-yourself homeowners – as floors, walls, and home well as the occupants of furniture increase the Wood-finish manu- buildings where these demand for wood finishes facturers have also finishing products have as alternatives to paint. been applied. Wood- stepped up the pro- finish manufacturers Many of the products duction of “green” have also stepped up the used to coat wood products because of production of “green” around the home have products because of the the rising interest traditionally contained rising interest among volatile organic solvents among developers developers in obtaining and other toxic chemicals in obtaining Leader- Leadership in Energy and SEAL’S that have been linked to Environmental Design ship in Energy and poor indoor air quality (LEED) certification for and possible health Environmental new buildings. Sales impacts. But because Design (LEED) of waterborne coatings of increasing public (including paints and certification for new awareness of indoor air wood finishes) now pollution and chemical buildings. dominate the national GREEN What is a Wood Finish? A finish is a liquid, paste, or gel that can be spread thinly onto wood. There are two basic types of wood finish: those that form a film or coating on the wood and those that penetrate the wood surface. Film finishes, which cure hard and can be built up in layers, include varnish, shellac, lacquer, water- and latex-based semi- transparent stains, and solid-color stains. Penetrating finishes are oil-based and don’t cure to a hard film. These include oil finishes, such as tung and linseed oil, and oil-based stains. Wood finishes, rather than paints, are often used to showcase market; in California, waterborne coatings (excluding paint). The the natural beauty of wood grain, coatings accounted for 83% of report begins with a general such as on floors and interior trim. sales of architectural coatings in description of wood finishes Outside, wood finishes are used on 2001. and continues with a discussion decks and siding. of health and environmental concerns associated with the This Choose Green Report Wood finishes can include a use of these finishes. The report focuses on interior and exterior number of components: wood finishes used as architectural concludes with a description of Green Seal’s criteria for • Pigments or dyes are used in environmentally preferable wood wood stains to add color and The Choose Green Report is published finishes and a list of product for Green Seal Environmental Partners. hide flaws. To become an Environmental Partner, recommendations. or to receive a copy of this report, • Resin is the natural or synthetic contact Green Seal at (202) 872-6400 or [email protected]. A WOOD FINISH: film-forming component of these finishes. (Resins are also Green Seal President and CEO, Arthur B. Weissman, Ph.D. Protects wood from called binders, especially when used in stains or paints, because Researchers and Writers, Kimberly Davis, scratches, dirt, and wear P.E., Kristen VanHooreweghe and Mary they hold – or bind – the Swanson, The University of Tennessee, Enhances wood’s natural pigment to the wood surface.) Knoxville, Energy, Environment and Resins include acrylics, vinyls, Resources Center beauty, color, figure pat- alkyds, cellulosics, epoxies, Design, Cutting Edge Design terns, grain, and depth. polyurethanes, and oils. The Original printed on Green Seal-certified type of resin determines the Mohawk Satin Cool White Recycled finish’s hardness, flexibility, and paper, 30% postconsumer content Preserves wood from wa- ter, oxidation, and the resistance to stains, solvents, This Choose Green Report was pro- and water. duced with assistance from the U.S. sun’s ultraviolet rays. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pollution Prevention Division. • Solvents and/or thinners are Copyright © 2005, Green Seal, Inc. Changes wood’s appear- used to maintain the finish www.greenseal.org ance by adding color and in liquid form. Solvents are hiding defects. needed to dissolve resins. GREEN SEAL Thinners are used to reduce ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNER viscosity (thickness) of the 2 Choose Green Report liquid. Some finishes contain Varnishes. Technically, all resin- type, nitrocellulose lacquer, both solvents and thinners. and-solvent mixes are varnishes. uses a binder made from a Solvent-based coatings typically Shellac is a spirit varnish—it natural polymer, cellulose, use organic solvents such as uses distilled spirits (denatured which is derived from wood or alcohols, ketones, glycol ethers, alcohol) as a solvent, while cotton. Lacquer thinner is a petroleum distillates (mineral spar varnish uses a drying-type blend of solvents, which may spirits, toluene, xylenes, and vegetable oil (typically tung include ketones and esters, naphtha), and turpentine. The oil) combined with phenolic alcohols, and fast-evaporating solvent in a waterborne coating resin. In today’s common hydrocarbons such as toluene is usually a glycol ether, and usage, “varnish” means a mix or xylene. Like shellac, lacquer water is used as a thinner. of drying oil and a natural or cures by evaporation. Without artificial resin that is a clear protective coating, • Various additives Beginning in the cooked (often with an it is easily scratched and are used, in smaller susceptible to water damage. 1970s, increased inert-metal catalyst) to amounts, to adjust make a clear finish that Another drawback to lacquer drying time, prevent concerns over the is typically used indoors. is its typically high solvent fungus and mildew impact of certain Varnish, which cures content. growth, act as chemicals on hu- by chemical reaction thickeners, etc. (polymerization), Natural oils. Linseed and tung man health and is known for good oils are penetrating finishes For centuries, varnish the environment resistance to heat, that cure by absorbing oxygen from the air, a process that (a catch-all term for accelerated a trend solvents, and water. clear wood finishes) Alkyd and polyurethane strengthens the finish. Linseed toward the develop- was made from resins varnishes, however, oil is extracted from flax seeds. collected from natural ment of high-solids may contain high VOCs. Boiled linseed oil used in wood finishing has been mixed with products such as tree (lower-VOC) finishes Water-based varnishes saps or insect secretions using polyurethane or chemical additives to hasten the and water-based and mixed with linseed acrylic polymers have drying time. Tung oil is derived or other natural oils. products. been developed that emit from the nuts of trees that To create the final lower VOCs. are native to Asia. These oils product, the mixture was thinned are durable, water-resistant, with turpentine. More recently, Shellacs. In its pure form, shellac and easy to apply but require synthetic resins derived from is a natural resin secreted by several coats and are slow- coal tar and petroleum began to the lac insect, found mostly in drying. Natural oils that have replace the natural resins, and India and Thailand. Shellac been heat-treated to increase petroleum distillates became the cures as its solvent, alcohol, gloss and hardness and most commonly used solvents. evaporates. Although it creates reduce curing time are called The petroleum-based products a brilliant shine, shellac’s polymerized oils. in the synthetic resins helped uses are limited because of its increase durability. But, beginning susceptibility to damage from Water-based. Water-based in the 1970s, increased concerns liquids and heat. Shellac is finishes are actually made up of over the impact of certain useful for touch-ups because droplets of solvent-based finish, chemicals on human health and it bonds well to most other usually acrylic or polyurethane, the environment accelerated a finishes. Shellac is also used and a solvent, usually a glycol trend toward the development of as a sealer and under-coat ether, with water functioning high-solids (lower-VOC) finishes with lacquer or varnish and as a thinner. Water-based and water-based products. A polyurethane. It may not be finishes cure by coalescing: the resurgence in the use of pure oils compatible as a sealer under droplets of finish move closer and shellacs containing natural certain polyurethanes, though, together and interlock as the ingredients marks another recent because of the natural wax it water evaporates. Water-based trend in wood finishes. contains. finishes offer minimal solvent fumes, easy cleanup, and good This Choose Green Report covers Lacquers. Lacquer is a clear finish scuff resistance, but they may varnishes, shellacs, lacquers, best suited for accenting wood raise the wood grain and offer natural oils, water-based wood grain. It dries fast and is very only moderate resistance to finishes, and wood stains. durable. The most common water, heat, and solvents. Wood Stains Interior stains. Interior The American Lung outdoors, with numbers stains, used for rising up to 1,000 times A wood stain is a finish for Association reports furniture and higher immediately wood that contains a dye or that VOCs and their woodwork, come in following application pigment.