ABSTRACT

This study exhibits the tuneable rubberwood with the actively controlled properties. Various amounts of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were introduced into rubberwood tissues under the allowed environment. The embedded PMMA resulted to weight gaining up to about 60% and caused an increase in the density from 650 (for untreated rubberwood) to 1060 kg/m³ (for fully impregnated one). Additionally, scanning electron microscopic images revealed the evidence of the raising of PMMA amounts in the microstructure of treated rubberwood corresponding to the degrees of polymer impregnation. The embedded PMMA, from 0% to about 60% in wood tissues, enhanced water-resistant properties, i.e. the increasing in the surface contact angles for about 20 degrees, the improvement of water absorption for four times and the development of anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) for almost 20%, to the treated rubberwood. Mechanical properties, including shear, compressive and flexural strength of treated rubberwood were also gradually improved when higher levels of PMMA were incorporated into rubberwood. Moreover, the logarithm values of water absorption, ASE, shear strength and compressive strength revealed the linear tendency when the degree of impregnation was raised. This would provide an opportunity of treating rubberwood as a tuneable wood-polymer composite material for the designated applications.

摘要

该研究展示了具有主动控制特性的可调橡胶木。在允许的环境下，将不同数量的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (PMMA) 引入橡胶木组织中。嵌入的 PMMA 导致重量增加约 60%，并导致密度从 650（未经处理的橡胶木）增加到 1060 kg/m ³（对于完全浸渍的）。此外，扫描电子显微图像揭示了在处理过的橡胶木的微观结构中 PMMA 量增加的证据，这与聚合物浸渍的程度相对应。内嵌PMMA，木材组织中从0%增加到60%左右，增强了耐水性，即表面接触角增加约20度，吸水率提高四倍，抗膨胀效率提高(ASE) 几乎 20%，到处理过的橡胶木。当橡胶木中加入更高含量的 PMMA 时，机械性能，包括处理过的橡胶木的剪切、压缩和弯曲强度也逐渐提高。此外，吸水率的对数值，ASE，随着浸渍度的增加，剪切强度和压缩强度呈线性趋势。这将为将橡胶木作为指定应用的可调木材-聚合物复合材料处理提供机会。