Modification of wood with copolymers based on glycidyl methacrylate and alkyl methacrylates for imparting superhydrophobic properties

Wood is an irreplaceable structural and biodegradable material, which is subject to swelling, shrinkage, significant deformation of structural elements, and products when its moisture content changes. This paper proposes wood surface modification with reactive copolymers based on glycidyl methacrylate and alkyl methacrylates to impart superhydrophobic properties with initial contact angles up to 166°. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy were used to study the features of polymer coating formation and to determine the modifier penetration depth, which was more than 1000 μm. It has been shown that copolymers do not fill the initial capillary system of wood. Modified wood is characterized by stable water‐repellent properties with low‐water diffusion rates, with the water absorption rate reduced by more than three times compared to that of initial wood. Polymer coatings provide water repellency, retain the appearance of original wood, and provide increased buoyancy. This paper describes an approach to address the issue of increasing water resistance of wood based on impregnation modification using special reactive hydrophobic copolymers. Impregnation modification preserves the original appearance and characteristics of wood, with the modifier in the near‐surface layer allows to achieve a superhydrophobic condition with initial contact angles up to 166° with long‐term water‐repellent properties