Application of Cold Plasma to Improve Properties of Phenolic-Bonded Aspen Fiberboard

ABSTRACT

Aspen fibers were plasma activated to enhance bonding between the particles and the adhesive for wood composites. The activation of materials was carried out by environmental-friendly dry plasma processing. After argon, oxygen or ammonia plasma treatments, the aspen fibers were analyzed by ESCA and FTIR. The fibers were used for designing fiberboards. Mechanical (MOR and MOE) and water swelling tests were conducted to evaluate the properties of aspen fiberboards. The results showed that ammonia and oxygen-plasma treatments of virgin and extracted aspen fiber samples have been the most successfully for surface modification and improving the strength of the fiberboards.

KEYWORDS:

• Fiberboard
• cold plasma
• surface modification
• wood particles
• lignin