Factors affecting the bulking and dimensional stabilization of wood with polyethylene glycols

The experimental data given here show that a high degree of bulking can be obtained with polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight as high as 50,000. Necessary conditions are: 1) a high enough initial moisture content of the wood; 2) treatment at high temperatures so that the polymer is infinitely soluble in water; 3) a high enough concentration of polymer to permit complete replacement of water; and 4) prolonged treating periods and conditions that will produce very slow drying.