Preparation of a Larch Bark-Based Composite and its Properties

Abstract

With the depletion of fossil energy, biology material is getting more and more attention. Bark, as a kind of renewable resource, need to be utilized urgently and reasonably. The larch bark was very extensive in northeast and the use of larch bark is limited to make tannin. However, the whole process produced much bark residue, which could not be utilized effectively. In this paper, based on the content of total phenolic hydroxyl groups, the in-situ synthesis reaction of the larch bark with formaldehyde was performed in different ratios. FTIR analysis was adopted to characterize the synthesized products. After air-drying, the synthesized product was pressed into a bark-based composite under pressure of 10~25 MPa. The effect of pressure and molar ratio of phenols and formaldehyde on the properties of the composite were analyzed. These results indicate that, pressure and molar ratio were both vital factors. The composite with higher molar ratio of phenol and formaldehyde had better abilities of anti-moisture, but the molar ratio of 1:2 made the strongest composite. With the increasing of pressure, the hardness of the composite was greater. For the composite made under 20 MPa and the molar ratio of 1:2, its hardness was 23.41 MPa and its max load was 415.83N. Its thickness and diameter swelling rate of moisture absorption in 12 d was 1.87% and 0.68%.