Wood-Polymer Composite Prepared by In Situ Synthesis of Copolymer within Wood and its Dimensional Stability

In order to improve the value-added applications of low-quality wood, a novel Wood-Polymer Composite was fabricated by in-situ synthesis of copolymer from monomers within wood porous structure. The structure was characterized with SEM and FTIR, and its dimensional stability was also tested. The SEM observations showed that copolymer filled up wood pores and contact tightly with wood matrix, indicating strong interactions between them. FTIR analysis indicated that when the monomers copolymerized in situ wood porous structure, they also reacted with wood matrix by reaction of hydroxyl groups and ester groups, indicating chemical bond between the two phases, which is agreement with SEM observations. The volume swelling efficiency and contact angle of such composite were higher than those of wood, respectively, indicating good dimensional stability involving volume swelling efficiency and contact angle. Such composite could be potentially applied in fields of construction, traffic and indoor decoration.