Acetylation of Wood

Chemical modification of wood can be defined as a process of bonding a reactive simple chemical to a reactive part of a cell wall polymer, with or without catalyst, to form a covalent bond between the two. Many chemical reaction systems have been published for the modification of wood and the system...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Forest products journal 2006-09, Vol.56 (9), p.4
Main Author: Rowell, Roger M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cellulose
Chemicals
Chemistry
Forest products industry
Laboratories
Lignin
Moisture content
Polymers
Wood composites
Wood preservatives
Wood products
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Summary:Chemical modification of wood can be defined as a process of bonding a reactive simple chemical to a reactive part of a cell wall polymer, with or without catalyst, to form a covalent bond between the two. Many chemical reaction systems have been published for the modification of wood and the systems have been reviewed in the literature. The newest acetylation technology developed at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in the US and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden in the early 1980s uses a controlled and limited amount of acetic anhydride, no catalyst or cosolvent; a small amount of acetic acid; and a reaction temperature of between 120 degrees Celsius and 130 degrees Celsius for solid wood and 120 degrees Celsius to 165 degrees Celsius for fibers and particles. Acetylation of wood reduces hydroscopocity and increases dimensional stability and resistance to biological attack. Since acetic anhydride is being produced in many places in the world, acetylation of wood fits into a global infrastructure of chemical production and recovery.
ISSN:0015-7473
2376-9637