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New wood‐polymer composites containing ethyl α‐hydroxymethyl acrylate polymers
Author(s) -
Wright J. R.,
Mathias L. J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760320510
Subject(s) - materials science , softwood , composite material , thermal stability , polymer , styrene , hydroxymethyl , polymerization , acrylate , ethyl acrylate , scanning electron microscope , copolymer , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
Ethyl α‐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 13 C CP/MAS solid state NMR and scanning electron microscopy.