Improved properties of thermally modified wood (TMW) by combined treatment with disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT) and wax emulsion (WE)

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preimpregnation of thermally modified wood (TMW) with paraffin wax emulsion (WE), which was loaded with disodium octoborate tetrahydrate (DOT). The improvements of physical, mechanical, and biological properties of WEDOT-TMW was in focus. The thermal modification (TM) was conducted at 220°C for 4 h. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC), water absorption, volumetric swelling, bending strength, mold and termite resistance of WEDOT-TMW were determined. The boron leaching data were also determined, while the borate was analyzed by Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), followed by the model fitting according to a pseudo-second order differential model. The results indicate that WEDOTimproved water repellency, dimensional stability, bending strength as well as the mold and termite resistance of WEDOT-TMW. The boron leaching of WEDOT-TMW was reduced compared with DOT-TMW due to the hydrophobic effect of WE. The pseudo-second order differential model describes accurately the boron leaching process from WEDOT-TMW.