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Improvement of water resistance, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties of poplar wood by rosin impregnation

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Abstract

Rosin was used to improve the physical and mechanical properties of fast-growing poplar wood using the impregnation method. The rosin was dissolved in ethanol with different concentrations and the wood was impregnated with the solutions obtained. The weight percent gain, density, equilibrium moisture content (EMC), anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), and mechanical properties of the treated wood were measured in detail. The crystalline structure, morphology, rosin distribution, and dynamic wettability were also evaluated. Results showed that the density of the wood increased from 0.34 to 0.44 g/cm3 after the treatment with 20 % rosin solution. When the rosin content increased by 5, 10, 15 and 20 %, the ASE after 5 days water immersion increased to 15.6, 20.6, 30.3 and 36.0 % and EMC reduced by 17.8, 26.5, 36.2 and 42.7 %, respectively. Particularly, the modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and compression strength of the 20 % rosin impregnated wood increased by 12.8, 18.9, 31.6 %, respectively. In addition, the dynamic wettability of wood was significantly changed by the rosin treatment. The rosin within wood could occupy the wood lumens, cell corners, and middle lamella, and partly penetrated wood cell walls, which was revealed by field emission scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by “The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities” (No. TD2011-12) and Special Fund for Forestry Research in the Public Interests (Project 201204702).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Youming Dong, Yutao Yan, Kaili Wang, Jianzhang Li & Shifeng Zhang

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Wood Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Youming Dong, Yutao Yan, Kaili Wang, Jianzhang Li & Shifeng Zhang

  3. MOE Engineering Research Centre of Forestry Biomass Materials and Bioenergy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China

    Youming Dong, Yutao Yan, Kaili Wang, Jianzhang Li & Shifeng Zhang

  4. Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, University of North Texas, 3940 N Elm St., Suite F101, Denton, TX, 76207, USA

    Changlei Xia, Sheldon Q. Shi & Liping Cai

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  1. Youming Dong
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  2. Yutao Yan
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  3. Kaili Wang
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  4. Jianzhang Li
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  5. Shifeng Zhang
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  7. Sheldon Q. Shi
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  8. Liping Cai
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Correspondence to Jianzhang Li.

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Dong, Y., Yan, Y., Wang, K. et al. Improvement of water resistance, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties of poplar wood by rosin impregnation. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 74, 177–184 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-015-0998-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-015-0998-6

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