The Wood-Water-Formaldehyde System

Authors

  • William E. Johns
  • Ahmad Jahan-Latibari

Keywords:

Swelling, water, formaldehyde, shrinking, composite sorption isotherm, Douglas-fir, red alder

Abstract

The physical interactions of the wood-water-formaldehyde system are reviewed.

Swelling data at 20 and 40 C (68 and 104 F) are presented which show that Douglas-fir and red alder wood shrink relative to pure water in low concentration water-formaldehyde solutions, and swell in higher concentration solutions ultimately to 18% by volume for a 24% (weight) solution of formaldehyde at 40 C (104 F).

The composite sorption isotherms of the wood-water-formaldehyde system are complex. There is seen, however, an initial relative increase in water concentration of the sorbed phase, followed by a general decrease of water concentration for most of the other concentrations studied. The reasons for this are not known.

References

Franks, F. 1968. Hydrogen bonded solvent systems. Covington, A. K., Jonas, P., eds. Taylor and Francis, Ltd.nFranks, F., and D. J. Ives. 1966. The structural properties of alcohol-water mixtures. Q. R. Chem. Soc. 20:1-45.nKipling, J. J. 1965. Adsorption from solutions of non-electrolytes. Academic Press.nOberg, J. C., and R. Hossfeld. 1960. Hydrogen bonding and swelling of wood in the dioxane-water system. For. Prod. J. 10(7):369-372.nRoff, W. J. 1959. A study of the sorption of formaldehyde from aqueous solutions by cellulose. J. Text. Inst. Trans. 50:T353-372.nStamm, Alfred J. 1964. Wood and cellulose science. The Ronald Press Company.nWalker, J. Frederic. 1964. Formaldehyde. American Chemical Society Monograph Series, Rein-hold Publishing Corp.nWilley, G. S., and K. S. Ruthman. 1950. U.S. Patent 2,495,053.n

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Published

2007-06-27

Issue

Number 3 / Fall 1980

Section

Research Contributions

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