Relationship between wood porosity, wood density and methyl methacrylate impregnation rate

Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was used to evaluate the impregnation mechanisms of wood by methyl methacrylate (MMA) through examining the changes in porosity, pore volume, pore size distribution and bulk density of solid wood before and after MMA impregnation. Porosities of MMA-impregnated (hardened) wood samples were lower than those of solid wood samples for six studied species, five hardwoods and one softwood. Densities of hardened wood were enhanced from 45 to 130% depending on the species. The pore volume available for mercury intrusion was shifted from pore d>0.1 µm for solid wood to pore d≤0.1 µm for hardened wood. A pore diameter of 0.1 µm was used as the transition point for MMA impregnation and the increased mercury penetration below this point was attributed to the MMA polymer pore structure. Porosity as an intrinsic property of wood appears to be the main determinant of impregnation rate and polymer retention, especially for porosity with pore diameter >0.1 µm. The results indicate that the MIP technique is an effective tool with which to study the impregnation process.