229 WOOD RESEARCH 59 (2): 2014 229-244 NOVEL UV- CURED NANOCOMPOSITE USED FOR THE PROTECTION OF WALNUT WOOD ARTWORKS Esposito Corcione Carola, Frigione Mariaenrica Università Del Salento, Dipartimento Di Ingegneria Dell’innovazione, Lecce, Italy (Received September 2013) ABSTRACT In the present paper, the properties and the effectiveness of an experimental solvent-free siloxane-modified acrylic - boehmite based nanocomposite as protective coatings for walnut wood artworks, were assessed. To this aim, a small amount (3 % wt.) of an organo-modified Boehmite (OMB) was added to the acrylic mixture. A novel methodology to apply and harden the coating, i.e. photopolymerization process, based on the supply of UV radiation, was employed. The novel nanofilled coating was applied on walnut wood specimens by brush and photopolymerized in air, using a UV lamp. The penetration of the protective product inside the wood substrate was analyzed using SEM and EDX techniques. Their hydrophobic capability was studied by water contact angle measurements. The colour change brought about by the coating applied on walnut wood substrates was estimate. The impact strength of the treated wood specimens was assessed. The water absorption behaviour of walnut wood elements coated with the novel organic photo- curable nanocomposite was also evaluated. For comparison proposes, the same experimental measurements were also performed on walnut wood specimens treated with an unfilled acrylic system (i.e. control) and a commercial protective for wood, based on linseed oil. The experimental UV-cured nanocomposite displayed good protective characteristics with respect the commercial product, brought about by the presence of the nanofiller, and it can be proposed as a potential coating for a wood substrate. KEYWORDS: Siloxane-modified acrylic resins; organo-modified Boehmite; nanocomposite, UV curing; photopolymerization; coatings for wood. INTRODUCTION The application of hydrophobic polymers to wood and stone materials is an effective way to preserve the artefacts and protect cultural heritage structures and objects from decay. Wood and stone materials used in heritage and buildings generally deteriorate when exposed to environmental conditions. To limit the decay of such materials, the application of suitable