Chapter Sixteen - Smart polymer composites for wood protection

Abstract

Wood products are treated with wood preservatives to preserve and protect them from deterioration. Depending on the location of service, wood or wood-based products are usually exposed to different deterioration factors. Wood that serves outdoor, for example, will be frequently exposed to the effect of weathering with repeated hot and cold cycles which are prone to fungal degradation. In this chapter, we first give a brief explanation of the various factors that threaten the strength and rigidity of wood that necessitate its treatment with proper wood preservatives. Then we give an overview of the kind of wood preservation techniques that are available before moving on to some of the latest developments in the use of smart polymers as wood preservatives for wood protection. Smart polymer composites and their derivatives are attracting considerable attention as alternatives in wood protection and preservation because of their availability, nontoxicity, and compatibility toward the main wood components. With the increasing evidence on the potential of nanotechnology and bio-based materials such as chitosan, protein, and resins in wood preservation, it will be something to look forward to should there be a chance to combine nanotechnology with bio-based environmental friendly material for the making of smart polymers for wood preservation.