Dear Colleagues,

Most wood products require coatings, whether it be wood-in-service (decking, clading, boats, tables, etc.) or decorative wood (vases, sculptures, etc.), to help protect against decay and dimensional change. Wood coating technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, and encompasses not only standard weathering coatings, but also pigmented coatings such as colored resins for stabilized spalted wood. This Special Issue offers an inclusive look at emerging timber and wood product coatings, whether for outdoor use, indoor use, or purely decoration. Broadening the view of wood coatings acorss these seemingly disparte fields will offer readers a fuller, more inclusive view of wood coating technology across diverse, global uses.

Wood is one of our oldest building materials, but also one of our most ephemeral if not properly cared for. Striking a balance between acceptable human/mammalian toxicity and imparted durability remains a challenge, especially if aesthetics are brought into play. As humans meander between forest preservation and working forest landscapes, a perpetual issue arises—how can we keep wood in service for as long as possible?

Wood coating technology continues to expand across multiple fields, from biocontrol to wood stabilization. However, scientific publications on wood coatings tend to focus on the preservative aspects in mass timber, often leaving out discussions of the very robust consumer-level coating market and use. From new quartenary compounds for utility poles to UV protection in decking finishes, to decorative pigment additives in wood stabilizers, this Special Issue offers a wider view of advancements in wood coating technology—offering equal footing to protective, reparative, and deocrative coatings, within the multifaceted context of durability, toxicity, and aesthetics.

The scope of this issue will include (but is not limited to):

• Decking, utility pole, and piling coatings to protect against water and microorganisms/macroorganisms
• Interior coatings for wood in-service, such as butcher blocks, salad bowls, tables
• UV-retardant and UV-interactive coatings
• Historic wood coatings on carvings, marquetry, intarsia, and furniture, especially as it pertains to repair and museum maintenence
• Coatings with additives, such as pigments and dyes, that add decoartive effects
• Pressure-treatment and other penetrative coatings
• Toxicity testing and concerns over wood coatings
• Durability of various coatings based on interior/exterior use (and all hybrid coatings)
• Consumer preference and trends in wood coatings
• Heat and other thermal modifications

Dr. Seri C Robinson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• wood coatings
• wood protection
• wood stability
• timber preservation