Impregnation of poplar wood with multi-functional composite modifier and induction of in-situ polymerization by heating

Abstract

Herein, a modified wood with greatly improved mechanical properties and reduced hygroscopicity was successfully prepared. The effects of the impregnation of multi-functional composite modifier on the chemical, thermal and morphological properties of poplar wood were also studied by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM-EDXA). The multi-functional composite modifier was fabricated by methylolurea, dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU), carbamide and silica sol. Cross-linking reaction happened between the wood cell wall and the multi-functional composite modifier. The position peaks in the XRD pattern didn’t change obviously, which indicated the crystal structure of cellulose was not noticeably affected by the chemical modification. The FT-IR analysis showed that the intensity of hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (C = O) absorption peaks decreased, which was attributed to the -NHCH₂OH of the modifier reacted with the hydroxyl and carbonyl of the wood. Meanwhile the Si-O-Si bond and Si-O-C bond formed between the wood structure and silica sol by in-situ polymerization. The TGA curve showed the thermal stability of the modified wood. The micrographs and major elements of the untreated and modified wood were observed by SEM-EDXA.

Keywords:

• Poplar wood
• multi-functional composite modifier
• in-situ polymerization
• chemical modification

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

fsThe study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51803093) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK20180770).