THE EFFECTS OF THERMAL AGING ON COLOR AND GLOSSINESS IN UV CURED COATINGS APPLIED TO SESSILE OAK

Color and glossiness are two important aesthetic properties of wood flooring and wood furniture that significantly affect consumers choice. With time the coating deteriorates altering the surface properties. Un-derstanding these changes is important for furniture industry, impacting design choices, material selection, and long-term maintenance. The effects of thermal aging (30 °C for 30 days, 60 °C for 60 days, and 90 °C for 90 days) on color parameters (C*, L*, b*. a*, ho) and glossiness on both perpendicular () and parallel (║) directions at 20°, 60°, and 85° angles in UV-cured coatings applied on sessile oak were studied. Results show that statistically significant differences were observed in the glossiness values, as well as in C*, b*, a*, L* and ho. As the temperature and duration of the thermal aging process increased, there was a noticeable increase in the values of color parameters b*, a*, and C*, while the values of ho and L* decreased. The characteristics of the surfaces exposed to thermal aging have undergone a complete transformation.