Modification of Chinese fir with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD): Processing and characterization

Abstract

A process for the chemical modification of Chinese fir with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was studied. The hydrophobicity of the resulting products was evaluated by characterization of the equilibrium moisture content, water-surface contact angle, water absorption coefficient, and anti-swelling efficiency. The results indicated that when 5% AKD solution was used, the modified wood generally showed good hydrophobicity and improved dimensional stability. The result of boiling water and hexane extraction tests showed that the modified fir possessed very stable hydrophobicity.

Keywords

• Wood modification
• Chinese fir
• Alkyl ketene dimer
• Hydrophobic character