Characterization and durability of wood-polymer composite prepared by in-situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene

The current study demonstrates the effect of in-situ formation of polymer from vinyl monomers on the morphology and durability of wood. Mixed monomers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) (1:1 molar ratio) were effectively vacuum/pressure impregnated into the cellular structure of a fast-growing poplar wood, Populus ussuriensis Kom, and then underwent a catalyst-thermal process to polymerize and form wood-polymer composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows that polymer converted from monomers almost filled up wood cell cavities. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis indicates that the polymer mainly physical interacted with wood matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests that the in-situ generated polymer mainly remained as an amorphous form in cell lumen. The block of wood cavities by polymer coupled with the water resistance of polymer resulted in remarkable improvement of decay resistance and dimensional stability of wood.   Key words: Wood-polymer composite, characterization, morphology, durability, methyl methacrylate, styrene.

[1]  Li Yongfeng,et al.  Effect of polymer in situ synthesized from methyl methacrylate and styrene on the morphology, thermal behavior, and durability of wood , 2013 .

[2]  Yang Wenbin,et al.  Dynamic rheological properties of bamboo flour/high density polyethylene (HDPE) composite , 2012 .

[3]  Jian Li,et al.  Improvement of decay resistance of wood via combination treatment on wood cell wall: Swell-bonding with maleic anhydride and graft copolymerization with glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate , 2011 .

[4]  Qinglin Wu,et al.  Wood–polymer composites prepared by the in situ polymerization of monomers within wood , 2011 .

[5]  S. Hamdan,et al.  Dimensional Stability and Dynamic Young’s Modulus of Tropical Light Hardwood Chemically Treated with Methyl Methacrylate in Combination with Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Cross-Linker , 2011 .

[6]  R. R. Devi,et al.  Chemical modification of simul wood with styrene–acrylonitrile copolymer and organically modified nanoclay , 2011, Wood Science and Technology.

[7]  Qinglin Wu,et al.  Improvement of dimensional stability of wood via combination treatment: swelling with maleic anhydride and grafting with glycidyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate , 2011 .

[8]  Stacy M. Trey,et al.  Electron-beam-initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)-based wood impregnants. , 2010, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[9]  P. Moraes,et al.  Influence of the temperature on the compression strength parallel to grain of paricá , 2010 .

[10]  S. Hamdan,et al.  Dynamic Young's Modulus and Dimensional Stability of Batai Tropical Wood Impregnated with Polyvinyl Alcohol , 2010 .

[11]  S. Hamdan,et al.  Dynamic Young's modulus measurement of treated and post-treated tropical wood polymer composites (WPC) , 2009, BioResources.

[12]  S. Curling,et al.  On the effect of heat on the chemical composition and dimensions of thermally-modified wood , 2009 .

[13]  Mahbub Hasan,et al.  Physico-mechanical properties of chemically treated palm and coir fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. , 2009, Bioresource technology.

[14]  M. Islam,et al.  Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Chemically Treated Coir-Filled Polypropylene Composites , 2009 .

[15]  Jayashree,et al.  STUDY OF DIMENSIONAL STABILITY, DECAY RESISTANCE, AND LIGHT STABILITY OF PHENYLISOTHIOCYANATE MODIFIED RUBBERWOOD , 2009 .

[16]  R. R. Devi,et al.  Chemical modification of rubber wood with styrene and glycidyl methacrylate , 2008 .

[17]  Todd F Shupe,et al.  Reducing leaching of boron-based wood preservatives - a review of research. , 2008, Bioresource technology.

[18]  C. Hill.  The reduction in the fibre saturation point of wood due to chemical modification using anhydride reagents: A reappraisal , 2008 .

[19]  A. Sönmez,et al.  Some physical, biological, mechanical, and fire properties of wood polymer composite (WPC) pretreated with boric acid and borax mixture , 2007 .

[20]  Yue Wang,et al.  Erratum to: Mechanical properties of wood in an unstable state due to temperature changes, and analysis of the relevant mechanism III: Effect of quenching on stress relaxation of chemically modified woods , 2007, Journal of Wood Science.

[21]  S. Y. Zhang,et al.  Dimensional stability of wood-polymer composites , 2006 .

[22]  C. Hill,et al.  Decay resistance of anhydride-modified Corsican pine sapwood exposed to the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana , 2006 .

[23]  M. Samejima,et al.  The effect of substituent distribution on the decay resistance of chemically modified wood , 2006 .

[24]  Yue Wang,et al.  Mechanical properties of wood in an unstable state due to temperature changes, and analysis of the relevant mechanism III: effect of quenching on stress relaxation of chemically modified woods , 2006, Journal of Wood Science.

[25]  Yaolin Zhang,et al.  Characterization of sugar maple wood-polymer composites: Monomer retention and polymer retention , 2005 .

[26]  T. Furuno,et al.  Leachability, decay, and termite resistance of wood treated with metaborates , 2003, Journal of Wood Science.

[27]  R. R. Devi,et al.  Chemical modification of rubber wood with styrene in combination with a crosslinker: effect on dimensional stability and strength property. , 2003, Bioresource technology.

[28]  E. Gezer,et al.  Boron addition to non- or low-formaldehyde cross-linking reagents to enhance biological resistance and dimensional stability of wood , 1999, Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff.