Synthesis of ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer containing fungicides and evaluation of their effect for wood decay resistance

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present study was to combat wood decay based on the approach controlled-release biocides from polymers. The possibility of introducing polymer-bonded fungicides into the cell lumens was investigated. The synthesis of ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer containing pentachlorophenol (penta) and 8-hydroxy quinoline (8HQ) in N, N dimethyl formamide is described. It was demonstrated that the penta-bonded acrylate is a poly(ethylene co-dipentachlorophenyl diacrylate), which has a disubstituted pentachlorophenyl group linked through two acrylate ester bonds. The reaction of ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer with 8-hydroxy quinoline leads to products containing 44.8% poly(ethylene co-8-hydroxy quinolinyl acrylate) and 55.2% of unreacted poly(ethylene co-maleic anhydride). Wood impregnated with the polymers described prevented decay by a brown- and white-rot fungus, even after water leaching. Wood treated with the fungicide pentachlorophenol (penta) alone prevented only decay by a brown-rot fungus. An advantage is that high loading of penta in polymer can be achieved. Moreover, there is a slow-release effect on the active agent due to hydrolysis of ester bonds. The decay resistance of wood treated with poly(ethylene co-8-quinolinyl acrylate) was similar to that of wood impregnated with 8-hydroxy quinoline.