Biologically-derived corn starch and glycerol coatings for possible wood surface modification: analysis of strength and moisture-related properties

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.26430

Abstract

The current study analyses the possible application of corn starch- and glycerol-based coatings on wood surfaces to assess their impact, both positive and negative, and the necessity to modify them to improve strength and moisture-related properties. It was determined that glycerol content up to 100 wt.% in corn starch coatings results in reduced tensile strength from 2.7 MPa to 1.2 MPa and modulus of elasticity from 28 MPa to 6.3 MPa, while elongation at break remains unchanged up to 75 wt.% glycerol. In addition, it is shown that the highest content of glycerol increased moisture content by a maximum of 266% in coatings compositions, while the carried study revealed the systematic impact of glycerol’s tendency to form water-soluble coatings on water absorption values, which have been reduced to 60% when water solubility increased to 47%. The results from mechanical and moisture-related properties allowed us to conclude that biologically derived coatings are necessary for possible wood surface treatment modified with hydrophobicity-inducing oils.

Article in English.

Biologinės kilmės kukurūzų krakmolo ir glicerino dangos galimam medienos paviršiaus modifikavimui: stipruminių ir drėgminių savybių analizė

Santrauka

Šiame tyrime analizuojamas kukurūzų krakmolo ir glicerino pagrindu pagamintų dangų galimas pritaikymas medienos paviršiams, siekiant įvertinti teigiamą ar neigiamą tokių dangų poveikį ir būtinybę jas modifikuoti, norint jas sustiprinti ir pagerinti drėgmines savybes. Nustatyta, kad 100 % viršijantis glicerino kiekis kukurūzų krakmolo dangose lemia nuo 2,7 MPa iki 1,2 MPa sumažėjusį tempimo stiprį ir nuo 28 MPa iki 6,3 MPa – tamprumo modulį, o dangų pailgėjimas prieš nutrūkstant išlieka nepakitęs, kai glicerino kiekis yra iki 75 %. Be to, įrodyta, kad didžiausias glicerino kiekis dangų kompozicijose padidina drėgmės kiekį daugiausia 266 %, o atliktas tyrimas atskleidė sistemingo glicerino polinkio sudaryti vandenyje tirpias dangas poveikį vandens sugerties vertėms, kurios sumažėjo iki 60 %, kai tirpumas vandenyje padidėjo iki 47 %. Mechaninių ir drėgminių savybių rezultatai leido padaryti išvadą, kad biologinės kilmės dangoms, skirtoms medienos paviršiui modifikuoti, būtinas apdorojimas hidrofobines savybes gerinančiais aliejais.

Reikšminiai žodžiai: biologinės kilmės dangos, kukurūzų krakmolas, glicerinas, medienos modifikavimas, biokompozitinės sistemos, drėgminės savybės, tempimo savybės.

Keywords:

biologically-derived coatings, corn starch, glycerol, wood modification, biocomposite systems, moisture-related properties, tensile properties

How to Cite

Levina, A., Kairytė, A., Kremensas, A., & Vaitkus, S. (2026). Biologically-derived corn starch and glycerol coatings for possible wood surface modification: analysis of strength and moisture-related properties. Mokslas – Lietuvos ateitis / Science – Future of Lithuania, 18. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.26430

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April 20, 2026
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2026-04-20

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Civil Engineering / Statybos inžinerija

How to Cite

Levina, A., Kairytė, A., Kremensas, A., & Vaitkus, S. (2026). Biologically-derived corn starch and glycerol coatings for possible wood surface modification: analysis of strength and moisture-related properties. Mokslas – Lietuvos ateitis / Science – Future of Lithuania, 18. https://doi.org/10.3846/mla.2026.26430

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