Preparation method of microporous veneer material for automotive trim

Abstract

The invention discloses a preparation method of a microporous wood veneer material for automotive trim, which is characterized in that controllable microporous processing is performed on a natural wood veneer through ultraviolet femtosecond laser, and high-transmittance acrylic resin varnish coating is combined to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength and attractive appearance. And the composite material can be widely applied to the fields with high requirements on optical performance, environmental adaptability and decoration, such as automotive interiors, smart homes and electronic display screen backboards.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of automotive interior technology, and particularly relates to a method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors. Background Technology

[0002] In the process of realizing this invention, the inventors discovered that the prior art has at least the following problems:

[0003] As consumers increasingly demand personalization, environmental friendliness, and technological sophistication in high-end interior products, natural wood veneer, with its natural texture and comfortable feel, is widely used in automotive interiors and home design. However, traditional natural wood veneer, due to its dense, opaque material and lack of functionality, struggles to meet emerging needs such as light transmission control and human-machine interface integration.

[0004] Existing translucent decorative materials (such as acrylic and glass) suffer from a lack of variety in texture and incompatibility with natural and environmentally friendly aesthetics. Although there has been research on drilling holes in wood veneer using CO2 lasers or nanosecond lasers, problems exist such as a large heat-affected zone, severe edge carbonization, and poor hole shape control precision. These issues can easily lead to damage to the material's appearance, unstable light transmission, and a significant decrease in mechanical strength.

[0005] CN118809929A ​​- A method and product for solving the problem of wood veneer delamination on the surface of automotive interior parts, disclosed in the technical field of automotive interior parts production, includes the following steps: Step S1, preparing the required real wood veneer material; Step S2, applying resin-based adhesive or hot melt adhesive film to the back of the veneer material to form a hot melt adhesive layer; Step S3, cutting the veneer material with the hot melt adhesive layer on the back into the designed expected shape; Step S4, placing the cut veneer material in an injection mold for in-mold injection molding, but this method still cannot solve the above technical problem. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors, which involves controlling the microporous processing on natural wood veneer using ultraviolet femtosecond laser, and then coating it with high-transparency acrylic resin varnish to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength and beautiful appearance.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors, comprising the following steps: 1) selecting wood veneer raw materials; 2) pre-treating wood veneer raw materials; 3) processing microporous structures on the surface of wood veneer raw materials; 4) performing surface treatment on the wood veneer raw materials after processing micropores; 5) applying a protective layer; 6) product application.

[0008] In step 1) above, the wood veneer raw material is selected from natural wood veneer with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The wood veneer raw materials include walnut, maple and cherry.

[0009] In step 2) above, the wood veneer raw material is dried, sanded and cleaned; after drying, the moisture content is ≤8% and after sanding, the roughness Ra is ≤1.6μm.

[0010] In step 3) above, an ultraviolet ultrafast laser with a wavelength of 355±3nm is used to form a microporous structure on the surface of the wood veneer raw material that is free from carbonization and cracks, with a light transmittance between 10% and 60%.

[0011] In step 3) above, the processing parameters of the femtosecond laser in the ultraviolet band are as follows: single pulse energy 10-50 μJ; pulse width ≤150 ps; spot roundness ≥90%; exit aperture 30 cm; scanning speed 50-3000 mm / s; repetition frequency 50 kHz-1000 kHz; aperture range 50-300 μm; aperture spacing 30-500 μm; focused spot diameter 5-50 μm; arrangement method: processed according to the set pattern, including dot matrix, linear, and gradient.

[0012] In step 4) above, the wood veneer raw material after laser drilling is subjected to dust removal and static electricity removal treatment.

[0013] In step 5) above, water-based polyurethane varnish or UV-cured high-transparency acrylic resin varnish is applied to the surface of the wood veneer raw material.

[0014] In step 5 above, the coating material has a solid content of ≥40%, a light transmittance of >90%, and a pencil hardness of ≥2H; 2 to 3 layers are applied by spraying or roller coating, and each layer is polished after curing; the final coating thickness is controlled at 20 to 80 μm.

[0015] In step 6) above, laser-perforated wood veneer is used as a light-transmitting panel, and is embedded into the interior system in conjunction with LED light sources, OLED displays or capacitive touch sensors.

[0016] One of the above technical solutions has the following advantages or beneficial effects: It utilizes ultraviolet femtosecond laser to perform controllable microporous processing on natural wood veneer, combined with a high-transparency acrylic resin varnish coating to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This material can be widely used in automotive interiors, smart homes, electronic display back panels, and other fields with high requirements for optical performance, environmental adaptability, and decorative properties. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the preparation method of microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the preparation method of microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors;

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the preparation method of microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors;

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the preparation method of microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the preparation method of microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors; Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] Example 1

[0024] See Figures 1-5 A method for preparing a microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors includes the following steps: 1) selecting wood veneer raw materials; 2) pre-treating the wood veneer raw materials; 3) processing microporous structures on the surface of the wood veneer raw materials; 4) performing surface treatment on the wood veneer raw materials after processing micropores; 5) applying a protective layer; and 6) product application.

[0025] In step 1) above, the veneer raw material is selected from natural wood veneers with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The veneer raw materials include walnut, maple, cherry, etc. These types of wood have elegant and delicate textures, moderate density, elegant patterns, good color, and excellent processing performance.

[0026] In step 2) above, the wood veneer raw material is dried, sanded, and cleaned; after drying, the moisture content is ≤8%, and after sanding, the roughness Ra is ≤1.6μm. These processes can improve the physical properties and appearance quality of the wood veneer, and can also significantly improve the yield and finished product quality of subsequent laser engraving, coating, lamination and other processes.

[0027] In step 3) above, an ultraviolet ultrafast laser with a wavelength of 355±3nm is used to form a microporous structure on the surface of the wood veneer raw material that is free from carbonization and cracks, with a light transmittance between 10% and 60%. Using an ultrafast laser can reduce the heat-affected zone, thereby improving problems such as severe edge carbonization and poor pore shape control precision, and avoiding problems such as damage to the material's appearance, unstable light transmission, and significant decrease in mechanical strength.

[0028] In step 3) above, the processing parameters of the femtosecond laser in the ultraviolet band are as follows: single pulse energy 10-50 μJ; pulse width ≤ 500 fs; spot roundness ≥ 90%; exit aperture 30 cm; scanning speed 100-3000 mm / s; repetition frequency 50 kHz-1000 kHz; aperture range 50-300 μm; aperture spacing 30-500 μm; focused spot diameter 5-50 μm; arrangement method: processed according to the set pattern, including dot matrix, linear, and gradient.

[0029] In step 4) above, the wood veneer raw material after laser drilling undergoes dust removal and static electricity removal treatment. Dust removal is to prevent sawdust generated during drilling from clogging the micropore array, and static electricity removal treatment is to improve the yield of the protective paint coating in the next step.

[0030] In step 5) above, water-based polyurethane varnish or UV-cured high-transparency acrylic resin varnish is applied to the surface of the wood veneer raw material.

[0031] In step 5) above, the coating material has a solid content ≥40%, light transmittance >90%, and pencil hardness ≥2H; apply 2-3 layers by spraying or roller coating, and polish after each layer has cured; the final coating thickness is controlled at 20-80μm. The function of the surface protective paint is to enhance surface hardness and wear resistance, improve chemical and stain resistance, enhance visual texture, make wood grain more three-dimensional and colors richer, seal wood fiber pores, reduce moisture exchange, and prevent expansion, contraction, and warping caused by humidity changes.

[0032] In step 6) above, laser-perforated wood veneer is used as a light-transmitting panel, which is then integrated into the interior system along with LED light sources, OLED displays, or capacitive touch sensors. The aim is to meet emerging needs such as light transmission control and human-machine interface integration.

[0033] To address the limitations of existing natural wood veneer materials in simultaneously achieving optimal light transmittance, mechanical strength, aesthetic appeal, and industrial application requirements, this paper presents a natural wood veneer material and its preparation method based on ultraviolet femtosecond laser microporous processing and a high-transmittance acrylic resin protective layer. This will inject more vitality into the development of the smart surface field.

[0034] Following the above approach, controllable micropores are created on natural wood veneer using a femtosecond ultraviolet laser, followed by coating with a high-transparency acrylic resin varnish to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This material can be widely used in automotive interiors, smart homes, electronic display back panels, and other fields with high requirements for optical performance, environmental adaptability, and decorative properties.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] A method for preparing a microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors includes the following steps:

[0037] 1.1. The preferred raw material for the veneer is high-quality natural wood veneer with a thickness of 0.2–0.5 mm, preferably from species such as walnut, maple, and cherry, which have fine textures and moderate density. Before laser processing, it needs to be dried (moisture content ≤8%), sanded (roughness Ra ≤ 1.6 μm), and cleaned. The selected veneer material, such as… Figure 1 As shown.

[0038] 1.2. Equipment selection: Ultrafast laser in the ultraviolet band (355±3nm) is selected.

[0039] Parameter settings: Single pulse energy: 10~50μJ; Pulse width: ≤150ps; Spot roundness: ≥90%; Light exit port: 30cm; Scanning speed: 100~3000mm / s; Repetition frequency: 50KHz~1000KHz; Aperture range: 50~300μm; Aperture spacing: 30~500μm; Focused spot diameter: 5-50μm; Arrangement: Can be customized according to the design pattern, such as dot matrix, linear, gradient, etc.

[0040] Processing objective: By precisely controlling laser parameters, a microporous structure without carbonization or cracks is formed on the surface of natural wood veneer, with light transmittance controlled between 10% and 60% (which can be adjusted by pore size and density), while preserving the original texture characteristics of the wood veneer.

[0041] 1.3. Surface treatment: The wood veneer after laser drilling is treated to remove dust and static electricity.

[0042] Protective coating: Use water-based polyurethane varnish or UV-cured high-transparency acrylic resin varnish depending on the application scenario; solid content ≥40%, light transmittance >90%, pencil hardness ≥2H; apply 2-3 coats by spraying or roller coating, and sand and polish after each coat has cured; the final coating thickness should be controlled at 20-80μm. The effect of the protective coating on wood veneer is as follows: Figure 4 As shown.

[0043] Enhanced functionality: UV protectants, abrasion resistant agents, and antibacterial ingredients can be added to the varnish to meet the durability requirements of different application scenarios.

[0044] 1.4. Application Integration: The laser-cut microporous wood veneer can be used as a light-transmitting panel, and can be integrated into the interior system with LED light sources, OLED displays, capacitive touch sensors, etc., to achieve functions such as backlight display, ambient lighting, and touch operation.

[0045] Following the above approach, controllable micropores are created on natural wood veneer using a femtosecond ultraviolet laser, followed by coating with a high-transparency acrylic resin varnish to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This material can be widely used in automotive interiors, smart homes, electronic display back panels, and other fields with high requirements for optical performance, environmental adaptability, and decorative properties.

[0046] Example 3

[0047] A method for preparing a microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors includes the following steps:

[0048] The first step: Prepare a 0.25mm thick natural black walnut veneer, dry and sand it, and then cut it to the required size of 268*119mm.

[0049] The second process involves fixing the wood veneer onto a femtosecond laser processing platform, setting the laser power to 20μJ and the scanning speed to 100mm / s, and drilling holes in an orthogonal arrangement with a 50μm diameter and 50μm spacing. The laser drilling drawing is shown below. Figure 2 As shown.

[0050] The third process: After drilling, compressed air is used to clean the residual debris from the holes. Microscopic images of the laser-drilled wood veneer samples are shown below. Figure 3 As shown.

[0051] The fourth process involves spraying three layers of high-transparency acrylic varnish in a clean environment using a three-coat, three-bake process, with each layer dried for 30 minutes at a temperature of 150°C, and finally UV curing.

[0052] The fifth process: sample testing. After testing, the microporous veneer sample had a light transmittance of 32%, a surface gloss of over 90 GU, and showed no obvious scratches after 1000 abrasion cycles.

[0053] The sixth process involves bonding the microporous wood veneer to a PCB board with LED backlighting using OCA adhesive. When powered on, it exhibits uniform light transmission and can be used for backlit button areas on central control panels. After bonding, the sample displays an image as shown. Figure 5 As shown.

[0054] This preparation method can achieve the following:

[0055] 1. High transmittance and controllability: Transmittance is precisely controlled through femtosecond laser micro-pores to meet visual and functional requirements in different scenarios;

[0056] 2. Low-damage processing: The ultraviolet femtosecond laser has an extremely low heat-affected zone, avoiding the carbonization and deformation problems caused by traditional lasers;

[0057] 3. Excellent appearance: The natural wood grain is preserved, while also possessing a modern technological feel;

[0058] 4. Good mechanical properties: Tests show that the bending strength of the veneer decreases by no more than 15% after drilling, and it still meets the requirements of vehicle-grade vibration and impact testing;

[0059] 5. Environmental protection and durability: It adopts environmentally friendly high-transparency clear varnish, which has anti-aging, anti-fouling and scratch-resistant properties, and meets the VOC emission standards of automobile manufacturers;

[0060] 6. Multifunctional integration potential: Supports deep integration with electronic devices, driving the development of intelligent interiors.

[0061] This invention addresses the limitations of existing natural wood veneer materials in simultaneously achieving optimal light transmission, mechanical strength, aesthetic appeal, and industrial-grade application requirements. It provides a functional processing method for natural wood veneer that integrates light transmission control, mechanical strength assurance, and natural aesthetics. This method is particularly suitable for high-end interior design scenarios that demand high material performance and user experience, and has broad market prospects and industrialization value.

[0062] This laser-microporous natural wood veneer material includes a natural wood veneer substrate, a engineered wood veneer substrate, a micropore array distributed on it, and a high-transmittance acrylic resin varnish layer covering its surface; the micropores are formed by ultraviolet ultrafast laser processing, with a pore size of 50-300 μm, a pore spacing of 20-500 μm, and a light transmittance of 10%-60%.

[0063] The ultraviolet ultrafast laser has a wavelength of 355±3nm, a single pulse energy of 10~50μJ, and a scanning speed of 100~3000mm / s.

[0064] The acrylic resin varnish is water-based or UV-cured, with a light transmittance of >90%, a pencil hardness of ≥2H, and a coating thickness of 30–80 μm.

[0065] Translucent finishes used in automotive interior parts, smart home devices, and electronic display devices.

[0066] Following the above approach, controllable micropores are created on natural wood veneer using a femtosecond ultraviolet laser, followed by coating with a high-transparency acrylic resin varnish to form a composite material with high light transmittance, good mechanical strength, and an aesthetically pleasing appearance. This material can be widely used in automotive interiors, smart homes, electronic display back panels, and other fields with high requirements for optical performance, environmental adaptability, and decorative properties.

[0067] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "coaxial," "bottom," "one end," "top," "middle," "other end," "upper," "side," "top," "inner," "front," "center," "both ends," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0068] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "setting," "connection," "fixing," "screw connection," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Unless otherwise explicitly limited, those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0069] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors, characterized in that, The process includes the following steps: 1) Selecting wood veneer raw materials; 2) Pre-treating wood veneer raw materials; 3) Processing microporous structures on the surface of wood veneer raw materials; 4) Performing surface treatment on the wood veneer raw materials after processing microporous structures; 5) Applying a protective layer; 6) Product application.

2. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step 1) above, the wood veneer raw material is selected from natural wood veneer with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The wood veneer raw materials include walnut, maple and cherry.

3. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 2, characterized in that, In step 2) above, the wood veneer raw material is dried, sanded and cleaned; after drying, the moisture content is ≤8% and after sanding, the roughness Ra is ≤1.6μm.

4. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 3, characterized in that, In step 3) above, an ultraviolet ultrafast laser with a wavelength of 355±3nm is used to form a microporous structure on the surface of the wood veneer raw material that is free from carbonization and cracks, with a light transmittance between 10% and 60%.

5. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 4, characterized in that, In step 3) above, the ultraviolet ultrafast laser processing parameters are as follows: single pulse energy 10-50 μJ; pulse width ≤150 ps; spot roundness ≥90%; exit aperture 30 cm; scanning speed 50-3000 mm / s; repetition frequency 50 kHz-1000 kHz; aperture range 50-300 μm; aperture spacing 30-500 μm; focused spot diameter 5-50 μm; arrangement: processed according to the set pattern, including dot matrix, linear, and gradient.

6. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 5, characterized in that, In step 4) above, the wood veneer raw material after laser drilling is subjected to dust removal and static electricity removal treatment.

7. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 6, characterized in that, In step 5) above, water-based polyurethane varnish or UV-cured high-transparency acrylic resin varnish is applied to the surface of the wood veneer raw material.

8. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 7, characterized in that, In step 5 above, the coating material has a solid content of ≥40%, a light transmittance of >90%, and a pencil hardness of ≥2H; 2 to 3 layers are applied by spraying or roller coating, and each layer is polished after curing; the final coating thickness is controlled at 20 to 80 μm.

9. The method for preparing microporous wood veneer material for automotive interiors as described in claim 8, characterized in that, In step 6) above, laser-perforated wood veneer is used as a light-transmitting panel, and is embedded into the interior system in conjunction with LED light sources, OLED displays or capacitive touch sensors.

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