Preparation of beechwood/polymer composites using the method of lyophilization and gamma irradiation

Abstract

Wooden cultural heritage serves as a very important source of information for historians and researchers. Also, it imposes an obligation on the science to keep this legacy for future generations in a proper condition. Among other techniques of conservation of wooden cultural heritage, a very suitable method is impregnation of the wood with the polymer, whereby the wood/polymer composites are formed. This paper describes the method of preparing the wood/polymer composites based on beechwood, using five different monomer systems. The method of lyophilization and subsequent polymerization by gamma radiation was used. After lyophilization and immersing in the monomer solutions, the wood samples were dried and irradiated with a dose of 25 kGy and different gamma irradiation dose rates. The weight of the samples before and after this procedure was measured. Also, changes in the mechanical properties of wood (compression test) before and after treatment were examined. We also examined the effect of radiation dose rate on polymerization. Based on the weight differences, dose rates and materials characterization we determined which of the monomer solution and dose rate are the most suitable for making beechwood/polymer composites.