Chemical modification of wood by non-formaldehyde cross-linking reagents

Abstract

The features of the reaction between sitka spruce wood and non-formaldehyde reagents, i. e. glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, and dimethylol dihydroxy ethyleneurea (DMDHEU), were investigated from the aspects of moisture adsorption and bending creep properties. To the moisture adsorption data, Hailwood-Horrobin adsorption equation was applied, and whole adsorbed water was separated into hydrated water and dissolved water which correspond to monolayer and multilayer adsorption, respectively. In the treatments with non-formaldehyde reagents, the decrease of equilibrium moisture content was mainly attributed to the decrease of dissolved water, but not largely to that of hydrated water. This suggested that the reagent in the multilayer adsorption region contributed pronouncedly to suppress the moisture adsorption by the bulking and cross-linking effects, but that the reagent in the monolayer adsorption region did not considerably. The creep deformation and remaining strain of the specimens treated with glyoxal and glutaraldehyde were as small as those of formaldehyde treatment. Also by the DMDHEU treatment, creep deformation was restrained to some extent. The eminent creep restraint effect by these treatments showed the formation of cross-linkings, although the crosslinkings were not stable to the drastic water leaching.