Preparation and properties of white-pine-PMMA composites

Abstract

Wood-polymer composites fromTurkish White pine (pinea siber)-Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), are prepared by heat catalysis method. Monomer loss during polymerization i s prevented by impregnation of wood in PMMA + MMA solution and subsequent polymerization. Volatility of MMA is decreased in a significant degree. % conversion values greater than 85% are obtained. A.S.E. values are determined. It is observed that A.S.E. values for PMMA-MMA impregnated, polymerized samples are higher than pure MMA impregnated, polymerized ones, probably due to MMA shrinkage during polymerization which occurs less in the first case. A.S.E. values greater than 70% are observed for 70% polymer load for PMMA-MMA impregnated samples. Different results are obtained for hardness parallel to grain and for hardness perpendicular to grain. An increase of about 2 fold is observed in case of hardness perpendicular to grain whereas i n case of hardness parallel to grain a 3 fold increase is obtained. Staining wood samples with Rhodamine B dye and subsequent examination under U.V. showed that PMMA had penetrated inside the wood and polymer distribution was mainly along the grain.