High-resolution X-ray imaging and analysis of coatings on and in wood

Wood coatings are widely used for aesthetic and protective reasons. Assessment of coating performance during service life is crucial in order to establish a knowledge database for product optimization. A vast amount of techniques is available for analysis of a coating’s behavior of which microimaging is an important tool. In addition to standard microscopy techniques, high-resolution X-ray tomography is presented as a modality offering nondestructive visualization of a coating and the substrate on which it is applied. Combined with analysis of the 3D volumetric data, surface roughness, structure and thickness of the coating layer, penetration depth and related mechanical anchoring can be studied in relation with the underlying substrate. To provide a clear illustration of the possibilities and limitations of this technique, both an opaque solventborne and an opaque waterborne coating applied on two different wood types were scanned and analyzed. Clearly, three-dimensional X-ray imaging at high resolution produces valuable information merely by visualization. Moreover, by proper analysis, quantitative data are obtained taking into account the limitations of X-ray computed tomography and of automated image processing.