New Wood Polymer Composites Containing Ethyl Alpha Hydroxymethyl Acrylate Polymers

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-1992

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

Ethyl alpha-hydroxymethyl acrylate (EHMA) was synthesized and evaluated as a candidate for wood impregnation and in-situ polymerization. Southern Pine softwood was impregnated under a variety of conditions with EHMA alone and with various comonomers plus free radical initiator. Following thermal polymerization, the wood-polymer composites were tested for increased dimensional stability (water soaking swell resistance) and mechanical properties over untreated wood. The greatest increase in dimensional stability was attained using EHMA alone, while the maximum compression modulus was achieved by impregnating with 1:1 EHMA-styrene and styrene alone. The composites were further characterized by C-13 CP/MAS solid state NMR and scanning electron microscopy.

Publication Title

Polymer Engineering and Science

Volume

32

Issue

5

First Page

370

Last Page

375

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