Masterclass: Hardeners for Parquet Lacquer
Professional parquet lacquers are often applied in combination with a hardener. But what does this hardener do exactly? What are the pros and cons? How can it be applied safely? And how do you decide whether to use a lacquer with or without hardener?
Machiel van Westerhoven takes you on a trip through a wondrous world where chemistry and daily use meet. In his Masterclass How do hardeners work" during the Interior Collection Days, he will tell you all about this.
A lacquer consists of polymers (molecule chains) and the links between them, which form a strong, close-knit network. The polymers in the lacquer (the green bundles on the left side of the image above) float in water. As the water evaporates, these bundles "unfold", and the hardener molecules bind themselves to the polymers.
There are various types of hardeners and corresponding links. The Hardener, therefore, needs to suit the lacquer AND needs to be added in the right ratio. This will lead to a "net structure" as shown in the image above. As a result of this net structure, the gaps between the polymers are smaller, which means dirt won't penetrate as easily and the coat of lacquer becomes more scratch and wear resistant.