Investigation on the physical properties of poplar wood (Populus deltoids) modified with glutaraldehyde/paraffin

Abstract

Current research was conducted to investigate the effect of combined modification of glutaraldehyde/paraffin on the physical properties of poplar wood. Impregnation was done in three concentration levels of glutaraldehyde, 5, 10 and 20% containing MgCl2 as catalysts, and consequently with paraffin in combined modified samples using vacuum-pressure method. According to the FTIR results, reaction of Glutaraldehyde with wood polymers resulted in increase the methylene groups and reduce the hydroxyl groups. Bifurcation of hydroxyl groups peak with increase of glutaraldehyde concentration from 10 to 20%, confirmed the hemiacetal formation that hydrolyzed faster than the acetal during soaking, so led to more weight loss. Glutaraldehyde modification was decreased water entrance into the wood structure via blocking of hydroxyl groups and cell wall bulking, and reduced the flexibility of wood for swelling due to crosslinking. Also, Paraffin by reducing the capillary effect, declined the penetration of water into the wood. Paraffin infixation in wood caused more weight loss of combined modification levels with increase of the immersion time.

Keywords

• Paraffin
• Water uptake
• Glutaraldehyde
• Swelling
• FTIR