Color and light transmittance studies of epoxy polymers : transparent wood composites development of biomass-based alternative glass window for tropical and coastal ecofriendly house

Abstract

Transparent wood composite is an advanced and developed technology of biocomposites. This biocomposite serves as an alternative glass in building material components. One of the main development parameters of this biocomposite is epoxy polymer technology as a transparent impregnant material that fills the pore structure and wood cells. This study aims to determine the color value and light transmittance of various colored epoxy impregnants that will be developed as alternative window glass materials. The impregnant used is epoxy resin with a mixture of several colors . There are 5 color pigments, namely white (W), red (R), yellow (Y), blue (B) and green (G). The tests carried out were color tests using a color reader and transmittance tests using a Spectrophotometer UV-Vis. The test results show color differences between the samples tested, as well as the resulting light transmittance values. The basic base color values ​​obtained were (W) = 73.0; (R) = 66.7; (Y) = 69.7; (B) = 63.7 and (G) = 67. The transmittance values ​​at a wavelength of 500 nm were 19.98%; 12.89% and 1.44%. The variation in color differences and light transmittance values ​​indicates a relationship between electromagnetic waves, color, and light transmittance. This technology is a prospective environmentally friendly technology.