Wood Modification Using a Urea-Formaldehyde Prepolymer

Authors

  • Qian Lang
  • He-Yu Chen
  • Jun-Wen Pu

Keywords:

Wood chemical modification, polar wood, urea-formaldehyde prepolymer, mechanism

Abstract

Urea-formaldehyde prepolymer and heat treatment were used to improve the properties of fast-growing wood. Results showed that the chemical modification not only decreased moisture absorption, but also increased bending strength and compressive strength parallel to grain. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the intensity of the hydroxyl and carbonyl absorption peak decreased, which indicated that the NH-CH2-OH of urea-formaldehyde prepolymer reacted with the wood carboxyl (C=O) and hydroxyl (—OH). The position of the X-ray diffraction peaks of modified wood did not change, indicating that the structure of cellulose did not change. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermostability of fast-growing wood was improved. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the cell wall and vessels were filled with impregnated chemicals.

References

Abdul Khalil HPS, Bakare IO, Khairul AM (2011) Effect of anhydride modification on the thermal stability of cultivated acacia mangium. J Wood Chem Technol 31(2):154-171.nAkyildiz MH, Saim A, Özdemir H (2009) Technological and chemical properties of heat-treated Anatolian black pine wood. Afr J Biotechnol 8(11):2565-2572.nBuckley CJ, Phanopoulos C, Khaleque N, Engelen A, HolwillMEJ, Michette AG (2002) Examination of the penetration of polymeric methylene di-phenyl-di-isocyanate (pMDI) into wood structure using chemical-state X-ray microscopy. Holzforschung 56(2):215-222.nCai XL, Riedl B, Zhang SY, Wan H (2007) Effects of nanofillers on water resistance and dimensional stability of solid wood modified by melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin. Wood Fiber Sci 39(2):307-318.nDeka M, Gindl W, Wimmer R, Christian H (2007) Chemical modification of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L] Karst) wood with melamine formaldehyde resin. Indian J Chem Techn 14:134-138.nDeka M, Petric M (2008) Photo-degradation of water borne acrylic coated modified and non-modified wood during artificial light exposure. Bioresources 3(2):346-362.nDevi RR, Maji TK (2011) Chemical modification of simul wood with styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer and organically modified nanoclay. Wood Sci Technol 46:299-315.nGao ZH, Wu D, Su WQ (2009) Polyurethane-solid wood composites prepared with various catalysts. I. Mechanical properties and dimensional stabilities. J Appl Polym Sci 111(3):1293-1299.nGindl W, Muller U, Teischinger A (2003) Transverse compression strength and fracture of spruce wood modified by melamine-formaldehyde impregnation of cell walls. Wood Fiber Sci 35(2):239-246.nInga J (2009) Influence of thermal treatment on the mechanical properties of pinewood. Mater Sci Tech Ser 15(2):148-152.nKumar S (1994) Chemical modification of wood. Wood Fiber Sci 26:270-280.nLoh YF, Paridah MT, Hoong YB, Yoong ACC (2011) Effects of treatment with low molecular weight phenol formaldehyde resin on the surface characteristics of oil palm (Elaeis quineensis) stem veneer. Mater Des 32:2277-2283.nMulinari DR, Voorwald HJC, Cioffi MOH, Rocha GJ, Pinto Da Silva MLC (2010) Surface modification of sugarcane bagasse cellulose and its effect on mechanical and water absorption properties of sugarcane bagasse cellulose/HDPE composites. Bioresources 5(2):661-671.nRowell RM (1980) Distribution of reacted chemicals in southern pine modified with methylisocyanate. Wood Sci 13(2):102-110.nRozman HD, Kumar RN, Abdul Khalil HPS, Abusamah A, Abu R (1997) Chemical modification of wood with maleic anhydride and subsequent copolymerisation with diallyl phthalate. J Wood Chem Technol 17(4):419-433.nXiuqin L, Haiqing R, Yafang Y (2009a) Method of testing in bending strength of wood. Chinese standards. GB/T 1936.1.nXiuqin L, Haiqing R, Yafang Y (2009b) Method for determination of the swelling of wood. Chinese standards GB/T 1934.2.nXiuqin L, Haiqing R, Yafang Y (2009c) Method of testing in compression perpendicular to grain of wood. Chinese standards GB/T 1939.3.n

Downloads

Published

2013-04-15

Issue

Number 2 / April 2013

Section

Research Contributions

License

The copyright of an article published in Wood and Fiber Science is transferred to the Society of Wood Science and Technology (for U. S. Government employees: to the extent transferable), effective if and when the article is accepted for publication. This transfer grants the Society of Wood Science and Technology permission to republish all or any part of the article in any form, e.g., reprints for sale, microfiche, proceedings, etc. However, the authors reserve the following as set forth in the Copyright Law:

1. All proprietary rights other than copyright, such as patent rights.

2. The right to grant or refuse permission to third parties to republish all or part of the article or translations thereof. In the case of whole articles, such third parties must obtain Society of Wood Science and Technology written permission as well. However, the Society may grant rights with respect to Journal issues as a whole.

3. The right to use all or part of this article in future works of their own, such as lectures, press releases, reviews, text books, or reprint books.