Sunday, November 27, 2011

Catalyzed Varnishes for Wood Furniture

When shopping for solid wood furniture, the durability of the finish applied to the wood should be a major consideration. The most durable kind of finish used in the furniture industry today is a catalyzed varnish. If you want maximum moisture, chemical and scratch resistance, make sure you're buying a product with this type of finish. Ask for documentation (either in print or online) describing the manufacturer's finishing process. If the company uses a catalyzed varnish, they will almost always describe it in their literature or on their website, because it is such a great selling point.


Catalyzed varnishes are exponentially more durable than standard lacquers or varnishes  because of the chemical bonding that occurs at the molecular level during their application and curing. This bond is initialized by adding an acid to the mixture of alkyd and amino resins (the chemicals which make up the varnish) which results in a cross-linking between the molecules that is both strong and flexible. 


Most food products and many household chemicals cannot break this bond, thereby giving your wood excellent chemical resistance. The strength of this chemical bond also provides better UV resistance than standard varnishes, so the color of your wood will retain its original color longer. The "bend-but-don't break" nature of this bond also makes the catalyzed varnish more resistant to scratches and other kinds of mild impact. 


The blend of toughness (hardness and flexibility) and chemical resistance make catalyzed varnishes ideal for kitchen cabinets and wood furniture.


Visit my company's website www.mydinette.com where you can learn more about furniture and shop our online showroom. We carry many products that have catalyzed varnishes.

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