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Abstract
Natural wood is susceptible to moisture during its practical use, limiting not only service life but also the range of uses. In this study, plant extracts, specifically linseed oil and carnauba wax (both environmentally friendly and water-repellent substances), were examined as a means to mitigate limitations of natural wood. Stable and homogenous epoxidized linseed oil/carnauba wax emulsions with an average particle size less than 230 nm were used as a modifier to enhance the performance of wood. Weight percentage gain, bulking coefficient, micromorphology, chemical structure, moisture adsorption, contact angle, water repellency, and dimensional stability of treated wood were measured. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), it was observed that carnauba wax and epoxidized linseed oil acted as a mechanical barrier and could partially cover or block vessels, pits, and wood rays. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of wood increased significantly after emulsion impregnation. However, there was no obvious chemical reaction between epoxidized linseed oil and the main components of wood in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results. The combined effect of epoxidized linseed oil and carnauba wax was apparent in both decreased water absorption and dimensional deformation. Poplar wood impregnated with an epoxidized linseed oil/carnauba wax complex emulsion shows potential for improving water-related properties. Thus, the complex emulsion modification can improve the inherent shortcoming of poplar wood effectively.
Highlights
Owing to natural advantages, such as renewability, processability, superior strength-to-weight ratio, and heat insulation, wood has long been used in furniture, decking, cladding, and wooden frames
This study explores the synergic effect of mixing hydrophobic carnauba wax (CW) and polymerized epoxidized linseed oil (ELO)
Impregnation of newly prepared ELO/CW emulsions effectively improved the water-related performance of wood
Summary
Owing to natural advantages, such as renewability, processability, superior strength-to-weight ratio, and heat insulation, wood has long been used in furniture, decking, cladding, and wooden frames. Wood is a hygroscopic, anisotropic biopolymer, mainly formed by cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The moisture interaction with wood fiber composites may result in dimensional instability [1,2,3], which limits its applications under certain environmental conditions. Water repellent treatments could increase water repellency and dimensional stability of wood, as well as reduce wood checking increased by outdoor weathering. The most common water repellent applied to the wood industry is paraffin wax [4]. The paraffin wax deposited in wood capillaries can reduce water penetration by capillary action, limiting dimensional swelling [5]. The failure of protection is associated with the nonbond between the cell wall and deposits [6]
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