Thermal forming of chemically modified wood to make high-performance plastic-like wood composites

Abstract

Abstract Chemically modified wood composites were obtained via the compression moulding of thermoplasticised Aspen (Populus tremula) sawdust. This sawdust was previously prepared by esterification with maleic anhydride (MA) and subsequent oligoesterification with maleic anhydride and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The thermoplastic properties of the chemically modified wood resulting from different modification procedures were confirmed and compared by compression-moulding experiments leading to preliminary and final products. An SEM study of the resulting products clearly showed that the oligoesterified wood had partially melted under pressure and temperature, such that the overlapping and surface melting of particles ensured adhesive bonding between those particles. A new type of wood/thermoplastic-wood composite was obtained. In these composites, the melted part of the modified wood plays the role of the cohesive matrix whilst none-melted wood remains as a fibrous reinforcing material. FTIR spectra suggested that changes in the chemical structure of the modified wood are possible during the thermal forming process (e.g. polymerisation of C=C double bonds). The final composites were yellowish-brown, glossy, plastic-like products that showed interesting physical, mechanical and biological properties. They are water-resistant and dimensionally stable and display good electrical insulating behaviour. Their mechanical properties (bending strength of ca. 64 MPa and tensile strength of ca. 36 MPa) are in the typical range for plastics and conventional wood-fibre/plastic composites, and are superior to common wood products such as fibreboards and particleboards. Furthermore, the outstandingly high internal bond (ca. 3.0 MPa) highlights the totally different adhesion mechanism operating in these new types of composites. Although the novel composites are much more resistant to decay than the original unmodified wood, they remain ultimately biodegradable plastic-like composites.