Dimensional Stability of Several Wood Species Treated with Vinyl Monomers and Polyethylene Glycol-1000

Several wood species (e.g., poplar, beech, alder, pine, fir and spruce) were successfully treated with three agents (e.g., styrene (St), a St and methylmethacrylate mixture (St-MMA), and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-1000). The polymerization of St and St-MMA monomers in situ was performed using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The maximum weight percent gain (WPG), 64.17%, was obtained for a lowest density wood species, e.g., poplar in the case of St-MMA copolymer. On the other hand, lowest value in WPG (about 15%) was obtained for beech with highest density. PEG-1000 treatment gave the highest antishrink efficiency (ASE) (about 84%) for poplar, followed by St and MMA mixture and St ones, respectively. However, maximum increase in density was achieved with St-MMA treatment. In general, the lower density, the better performance in dimensional stability.