Various modification methods have been developed to extend the service life of wood which include surface treatments, chemical modifications, heat treatments, and impregnation techniques. Chemical wood modification offers promising improvements in performance by altering the chemical composition or interaction of wood polymers. Treatments based on polycarboxylic acids and polyols- such as citric acid (CA) and sorbitol are gaining attention for their ability to form ester bonds within the wood cell wall, enhancing both durability and dimensional stability (Kurkowiak et al. 2021). The SorCA system, composed of CA and sorbitol, is derived from renewable sources and aligns with the principles of green chemistry and sustainability. In addition, this type of modification has proven effective in improving the resistance of fast-growing hardwoods to moisture-induced deformation and biological degradation. However, while such treatments may slightly increase stiffness, they can also lead to a reduction in bending strength (Mubarok et al. 2020).
Studies have shown that the use of polycarboxylic acids such as malic acid (MA) and tartaric acid (TA) in combination with various polyols (glycerol and butanediol) can enhance the dimensional stability of beech wood (Chabert et al. 2021, L’Hostis et al. 2018). These acids are also bio-based and compatible with sorbitol in forming cross-linked polymer networks. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the substitution of CA with MA and TA in sorbitol-based wood modification systems and assess their influence on the moisture resistance of modified birch wood.
Keywords: wood modification, hardwood, anti-swelling efficiency, bulking co-efficient
Authors
Sheikh Ali Ahmed
Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology, Linnaeus University, 351 95 Växjö, Sweden
Reza Hosseinpourpia
College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, Michigan 49931, United States
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