Dimensional stability and decay resistance of wood upon modification with some new type chemical reactants

IRG/WP 94-40028

P Goethals, M Stevens

Solid wood of home grown species can be upgraded by chemical modification with environmentally acceptable chemicals. The best kwown example of modification reaction is acetylation with acetic anhydride. A continued search for reactive chemicals other than acetic anhydride is ongoing, aiming at the improvement of technical properties of wood. This contribution deals with the results of a screening experiment of different potential chemicals for modification reactions. The following reactive chemicals were selected for the treatment of small wood blocks: glutaric anhydride wether or not in combination with epichlorohydrin; cyclohexylisocyanate; glycidylmethacrylate; propyltrimethoxysilane and sodiumperiodate. The dimensional behaviour (ASE-values; water vapour sorption) and chemical stability (hydrolysis) of modified samples at different weight add-on levels were examined. Decay resistance was tested for all modified samples against Coniophora puteana (pine) and Coriolus versicolor (beech). Esterified wood at a WPG of 25% affords the highest level of improvement to both pine and beech, with ASE-values of 50 up to 70% and low weight losses on fungal exposure, particulary for treated pine.


Keywords: CHEMICAL MODIFICATION; DIMENSIONAL STABILITY; DECAY RESISTANCE; GLUTARIC ANHYDRIDE; EPICHLOROHYDRIN; CYCLOHEXYLISOCYANATE; GLYCIDMETHACRYLATE; PROPYLTRIMETHOXYSILANE; SODIUM PERIODATE

Conference: 94-05-29...06-03, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia


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