Design of Wood/Montmorillonite (MMT) Intercalation NanocompositeCollege of Material Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, P.R.China

Studying new wood composites through nano science and technology (NSC) will develop new compounding theory of wood, and accelerate the combination of new technology, wood science, material science and other disciplines. The compounding of wood and inorganic MMT on nanoscale molecular level has high potential to greatly improve the mechanical properties, fire retardance, abrasion resistance, decay resistance, dimensional stability and other properties of wood. Based on the great achievements of polymer/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites, this paper reviewed nano intercalation compounding methods (i.e. in-situ intercalative polymerization and direct polymer intercalation), and discussed the structure, properties and modification of montmorillonite (MMT). According to the main chemical components and particular structure of wood, the authors discussed the liquefaction and plasticization of wood, compared the dissolvability and meltability between wood and polymer, and then systematically put forward the basic idea, technological processes and schematic diagram to prepare wood/MMT nanocomposites (WMNC). The key technology to prepare WMNC is either to introduce delaminated MMT nanolayers into wood with the help of some intermediate polymers, or to obtain liquefied wood or plasticized wood from the complicated natural composite. It is applicable and effective to realize wood/MMT nanoscale compounding with the help of proper intercalation agent and medium polymer through the proposed "one-step" or "two-step" impregnating processes.     

木材/蒙脱土(MMT)纳米插层复合材料的制备构想

基于聚合物 蒙脱土纳米插层复合材料的研究成果 ,综述了插层复合方法的原理、工艺过程和产品性能 ,分析比较了单体插层原位聚合和聚合物直接插层等方法。从木材与蒙脱土的结构和组成特性出发 ,分析比较了木材与聚合物溶解、熔融性的不同 ,讨论了利用插层复合原理制备木材 蒙脱土纳米复合材料的基本构想 ,并进一步提出了相应的技术路线和工艺流程概念图。     

Properties of Wood/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

INTRODUCTIONWood possesses many special properties, such asbeautiful grain, natural color, high strength-to-weightratio, good electricity and heat insulation; and it can beeasily processed, glued or dyed. It is biodegradable,recyclable and environmental-friendly (Wang Tianminet al. 2002). But as a biomaterial, it also has intrinsicdefects as easy decaying, burning and deforming,which largely limits its usage. Nano science andtechnology opens a completely new way to developwood composites…     

Preparation and characterization of wood/montmorillonite nanocomposites

With montmorillonite (MMT) organically modified as organophilic MMT (OMMT) and water-soluble phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) as intermediate, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood/MMT nanocomposites (WMNC) were prepared via nano intercalation compounding and characterized by XRD, SEM and FTIR. Results show that: 1) the preparation of OMMT is very successful; 2) the self-made PF can effectively intercalate into MMT to increase markably its gallery distance and even exfoliate its nano silicate laminae; 3) the XRD analysis indicates that some exfoliated MMT enters the non-crystallized region of microfibrils in wood cell walls and the crystallinity degree of wood in WMNC decreases; 4) the SEM graphs show that multiform MMT exists in WMNC. Some grains block in wood cell lumen, some layers adhere to the wood surface of the inner cell wall and some exfoliated nanolaminae even insert into wood cell walls; and 5) the FTIR analysis suggests that MMT and wood in WMNC perhaps interact via certain chemical bonding.     

Design Wood Nanocomposites from Polymer Nanocomposites

1INTRODUCTIONAsbiologicmaterialformedbycells,Woodhasparticularstructureandprominentproperties.Woodisgreenenvironmentalmaterial.Inthisaspect,otherengineeringmaterialscannotcomparewithwood.Woodhasmanyspecialvirtues,buthasalsomanyinherentdefectsthatcantbeovercomebyconventionalprocessingmethods.Woodcompositesaremoreadvantageousthancommonwoodandotherconventionalmaterialsincomposition,structure,propertiesandsoon.WiththegreatachievementsinWoodcompositematerials,manynewhigh-levelwoodcompositesha…     

Preparation of Chinese fir wood/MMT nanocomposites and the factors affecting it

The nano intercalation compounding of wood and MMT has important implications for the modification of wood and for the development of new materials. With water-soluble phenol formaldehyde resin as an intermediary, the nanocomposites of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared via three impregnation methods, i.e. normal pres-sure, once and twice vacuum methods. Based on the weight percent gain (WPG) of impregnated wood, the effects of compounding wood and MMT in term...     

Structure and characterization of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood/MMT intercalation nanocomposite (WMNC)

With water-soluble phenol-formaldehyde resin as an intermediate, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) wood/montmorillonite nanocomposite (WMNC) was prepared through vacuum impregnation and characterized with XRD, SEM, FTIR and TG-DTA analyses. The XRD analysis indicated that the wood crystallinity of WMNC decreased, the MMT exfoliated and some nano silicate layers entered into the non-crystallized microfibrillar region of the wood cell wall. Wood structure is anisotropic and its impregnation is anisotropic. Due to the nonuniformity of the MMT organic modification, PF intercalation and wood impregnation, the MMT configuration and distribution in wood were diverse. The SEM graphs of WMNC showed that some silicate grains were blocked in the wood cell lumen, some silicate layers adhered to the inner surface of the wood cell wall, and some exfoliated MMT layers even penetrated the wood cell wall. The obtained hydroxyl of WMNC increased and its ether linking decreased. It was considered that MMT and wood interacted not only with hydroxyl bonds, but also involved some chemical linking. Compared with untreated wood and the PF-impreg, the pyrolysis process of WMNC changed; its starting decomposing temperature decreased and its pyrolysis weight loss at high temperatures greatly decreased. The WMNC indicated certain nanoeffects of the composition of the inorganic MMT nanolamellae. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2007, 29(1): 131–135 [译自: 北京林业大学学报]     

Nanoscale in Wood,Nanowood and Wood—Inorganic Nanocomposites

In order to introduce nano science and technology(NST) into the research field of wood science and technology,and promote the research of wood science and wood-inorganic composites to nanoscale ,some new concepts,such as the nano space in wood,nano structure units of wood and nanowood are put forward in this paper based on the layer structure of wood cell wall and the pile-up model of its main components.Furthermore,the process of preparing nanowood is discussed,and wood-inorganic nanocomposites may be operated in three ways with wood (matrix) and inorganic filler phase in 0-2,0-3 or 2-3 dimensions respectively.The following results are obtained:(1) The nanoscale voids in wood indicate that wood has inherent space to accommodate nanosized materials,such as nanoparticles,nanotubes and nanosticks;(2) According to the size from top down,the nano structure units in wood can be classified as :nanolayers,nano CMF (cellulose microfibril) and matrixd,nano crystallite units and cellulose chain clusters,and these can theroretically from nanowood;(3) The preparation of wood-inorganic nanocomposites can be operated on 0-2,0-3 or 2-3 dimensions.     

Physical properties and molecular mobility of the new wood composite plastic “thermobalite”

At the Altai State University a new method of synthesizing composite materials from wood without using traditional chemical components has been developed. The foundation of the method is the physical and chemical treatment of cheap wood waste by hot water steam under pressure. The paper presents comparative results of an investigation into the structure and properties of the composite material “thermobalite” synthesized on the basis of birch wood. The investigation has been carried out using dynamic mechanical analysis, linear dilatometry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and other physical methods. It has been shown that “thermobalite” is a partially crystalline composite polymer, whose glass transition temperature is 80 °C lower compared to the initial wood. It has been established that preliminary moistening affects viscoelastic properties of “thermobalite”. Certain indicators of “thermobalite” as a structural material have been correlated with similar indicators of standard wood chip plates on the basis of phenolformaldehyde binders. Received 6 March 1997     

Optimum preparation technology for Chinese fir wood/Ca-montmorillonite （Ca-MMT） composite board

For this study, an intercalation compounding method was used to prepare Chinese fir wood/Ca-montmorillonite （Ca-MMT） composite board to improve its properties such as surface mechanical properties, flame retardance and dimensional stability. By virtue of water-soluble phenolic resin （PF）, Chinese fir wood and Ca-MMT were mixed by pressure and vacuum impregnation. The optimum impregnation technology of Chinese fir wood/Ca-MMT composite board was obtained by using an orthogonal design and a single factor design of pressure and vacuum impregnation, using weight percent gain （WPG） as the basic index. The results are as follows： 1） On the basis of the orthogonal design and an actual experiment, the optimum preparation technology of Chinese fir wood/Ca-MMT composite board is 20% PF resin dispersion concentration （wt%）, 1.0 CEC amount of organic intercalation agent, 0.098 MPa vacuum degree, 5% concentration of Ca-MMT and 1.0 MPa pressure. 2） The WPG of the composite board samples of 450 mm length was much larger than that of the samples of 600, 750 and 900 mm length. Warm water extraction contributed little to WPG     

Properties of PP/wood flour/organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites

In this research, composites based on polypropylene (PP), beech wood flour, and organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) were prepared and characterized for their properties. The blend nanocomposites were prepared by melt mixing of PP/WF at 50% weight ratios with various amounts of OMMT (0, 3, and 6 per hundred compounds (phc)) in a Hakee internal mixer. Then the samples were made by injection molding. The influence of organomodified montmorillonite contents on clay dispersion, physical and mechanical properties of PP/wood flour composites were investigated. Results indicated that the flexural strength and modulus, tensile strength and modulus increased by addition of 3 per hundred compounds (phc) of organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT), but decreased with 6 phc OMMT addition. However, impact strength, water absorption and thickness swelling of the composites decreased with increasing nanoclay loading. X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the nanocomposites formed were intercalated. Also, morphological findings showed that samples containing 3 phc of OMMT had higher order of intercalation.     

Effect of organoclay platelets on the mechanical properties of wood–plastic composites formulated with virgin and recycled polypropylene

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of organoclay platelet contents (0, 3 and 5 wt%) and polypropylene type (virgin and recycled) on the mechanical properties of polypropylene/wood flour composites. Composite samples were made by melt compounding and consequent injection moulding. The tensile, flexural and impact properties of resultant composites were determined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of composites with 3 and 5% nanoclay content was also conducted. The results indicated that tensile and flexural properties of the composites increased with the addition of nanoclay particles up to 3 wt% and decreased thereafter. The impact strength of the composites, however, decreased with the incorporation of nanoclay. The mechanical properties of the recycled polypropylene-based nanocomposites were statistically comparable with those based on virgin polypropylene. XRD analysis revealed that the degree of intercalation in the nanocomposites containing 3% nanoclay was higher than in those containing 5%. Based on these results, it can be concluded that recycled polypropylene could be used instead of virgin polypropylene in the production of value-added products with no significant adverse effects on the mechanical properties.     

纳米增强木塑复合材料研究现状

木塑复合材料(WPC)是利用植物纤维和塑料加工制备而成的一种环境友好型的新型绿色材料,具有力学性能好、吸水性低及可循环利用等优点,被广泛应用于家具、户外设施、建筑装饰和园林景观等领域.文中从纳米材料对WPC的物理力学、阻燃和耐老化等方面性能的影响出发,总结了近年来利用刚性粒子、碳纳米管、纳米蒙脱土等纳米无机化合物,以及...     

木材科学与技术研究新进展

木材作为世界四大基础材料中(钢铁、水泥、塑料、木材)唯一的可再生资源,广泛应用于家具、建筑、能源、新材料等领域,与人们的生活息息相关,已成为国民经济重要支柱产业。从木材微观分子生物学到宏观木结构,再到新型木质纳米材料进行全面阐释,对于木材科学与技术领域的基础理论研究和重大核心技术突破具有重要指导意义。木材科学与技术已发展为综合性的交叉学科,资源、环境和科学技术的发展,使得木材科学与技术领域的基础理论研究和关键技术取得了一系列的重大突破。笔者从微观的细胞分子层面到宏观的木结构和木建筑,从木材构造与材性、木材水分及干燥、木材保护与改良、木材重组与复合、木制品与木结构、木材解离与组装、木材解构及转化等方面,概述了木材科学与技术的经典理论,重点总结分析了近二十年来木材科学与技术领域取得的系列新进展,概括木材及其衍生材料在新型先进纳米复合材料领域的应用,并展望了木材科学与技术领域未来的研究热点和发展方向,以期为我国林产工业,特别是木材加工产业的科技进步和产业结构调整与升级提供理论和技术支撑。     

Perceptions of “close-to-nature forestry” by German and Japanese groups: inquiry using visual materials of “cut” and “dead” wood

It is generally believed that forests are perceived differently according to the cultural background of the visitor. Different cultural groups tend to have diverse perceptions of tree species, landscapes, or gardens. In this research project, we conducted interviews of German and Japanese groups (each group consisting of three or more people), to identify their perspectives in exploring the theme of “cut” and “dead” wood. For this purpose, we interviewed 20 groups from each cultural background (40 data sets in total). Each group was asked to categorize 36 pictures chosen from photographic contests. The results were examined with PCA and cluster analysis. The quantified results of the two national groups highlighted the dichotomy of the cut and dead wood relationship. The method and materials used gave robust results. Differences between the two groups were identified by their perceptions of cut and dead wood. The results are insightful from a methodological and political rationale. First, new insights were gained by adopting group-based interviews using pictures from photographic contests. Research about public perceptions in forest science is often dominated by a focus on verbal inquiry. This study explored similar questions, using visual materials. The interviews consisted of visual materials to overcome bias in languages or the question order. Second, the results indicated the influence of “close-to-nature forestry” policy on public perceptions. While German society has a wide practice of leaving dead wood in forests based on their close-to-nature forestry policy, there is no equivalent Japanese concept. Although Japan and Germany both face pressures for economic restructuring and public participation, the difference in public perception of forestry can lead to a difference in acceptance for the same policy. If such differences are to exist, we can observe that the legitimacy of forestry in the two countries is reconstructed in different ways.     

Intercalation of wood charcoal with sulfuric acid

Intercalation of wood charcoal with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) was investigated. Carbonized sugi (Japanese cedar) samples were prepared by heating at various temperatures in the range 1700°–2700°C. Electrochemical oxidization was carried out in H₂SO₄ and the feasibility of intercalation was determined. In potentiometric analysis, plateaus appeared for samples carbonized at temperatures above 2300°C. In their X-ray diffraction profiles, the peak at around 26° was shifted to a smaller angle of about 22.4°. These results can be considered as signs of intercalation with acid molecules. Fourier transform infrared analysis of charcoal heated at 2700°C, following washing with water and drying of the sample, showed a band at 1220 cm⁻¹ that was assigned to a sulfonate group. This band was not observed for samples heated at 1900°C. These observations suggest the occurrence of intercalation in the former charcoal, but not in the latter. It is concluded that wood charcoal can undergo intercalation when it has ordered stacking of hexagonal carbon layers. Part of this article was presented at the 55th, 56th, and 57th Annual Meetings of the Japan Wood Research Society, Akita, Hiroshima, and Tsukuba, August 2006, August 2007, and March 2008, respectively, and at the International Conference on Carbon “CARBON 2008,” Nagano, July 2008     

纳米材料与纳米技术在功能性木材中的应用

木材的功能化修饰是提高和改善其性能的有效途径, 利用纳米材料与纳米技术所具有的特性和功能来改性木材, 可以获得新型功能化的木基纳米复合材料。文中总结了纳米材料、纳米合成技术、纳米表征技术以及纳米仿生智能构筑技术在木材功能性改良中的应用情况, 展望了纳米材料与纳米技术在功能性木材研究领域的发展趋势, 旨在为木材的功能化修饰研究提供参考。     

Reducing resin content and board density without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of particleboard through controlling particle size

Density and resin content are two factors that have a signifi- cant effect on the production cost of wood composite. However, particle size affects resin content and density, which suggests that the interaction of these three factors can be manipulated to reduce the board density and resin content of particleboard without adversely influencing its mechani- cal properties. Some mathematical functional forms based on resin con- tent, board density and slenderness ratio were regressed and an appropri- ate form was chosen. According to analysis of the results using SHA- ZAM 9 software, the exponential function best fit the experimental data. Finally, "indifference curves" of mechanical properties were illustrated and analyzed. The results indicated that negative effects of density or resin content reduction on mechanical properties could be compensated for by controlling particles’ slenderness ratio. Interestingly, increases in slenderness ratio compensated for the negative effects of decreases in resin content or board density on module of rupture (MOR) and module of elasticity (MOE). Moreover, this "compensation ratio" intensified as resin content or density decreased and/or as the MOR or MOE increased. On the other hand, reduction in slenderness ratio indicated a comple- mentary effect on reducing internal bond (IB) strength, a result of de- creases in resin content or density. Moreover, this "complementary ratio" was intensified as resin content or density decreased and/or as IB strength increased.     

Properties of cell wall constituents in relation to longitudinal elasticity of wood

 To predict the origin of longitudinal elasticity of the solid wood in relation to the composite structure of the wood cell wall, an analytical procedure was developed on the basis of the idea of “the reinforced-matrix hypothesis” originally introduced by Barber and Meylan (1964). A multi-layered circular cylinder, having the CML, the S1, and the S2 layers, was used as a model of the ligno-cellulosic (wood) fiber, and the elastic properties of an isolated wood fiber were formulated mathematically. In the formulation, not only the structural factors, such as the microfibril angle and the thickness of each layer, but also the environmental condition, e.g. the moisture content, were taken into consideration. The effects of the moisture content and the microfibril angle upon the longitudinal Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the wood fiber were simulated by using the newly derived formulae. It is anticipated to give a start to estimate the fine structure and the internal properties of the cell wall constituents in relation to the macroscopic behaviors of the wood through simulating the mechanical behaviors of the wood fiber. Received 17 August 1999     

MMT/PVA/木材复合材料的物理力学性能

分别采用一步法和两步法制备聚乙烯醇(PVA)和有机蒙脱土(MMT)的复合处理液,复合处理液通过满细胞法真空加压浸注杉木试材,制备MMT/PVA/杉木材复合材料(PVDMW).测定了PVDMW的吸水率、抗胀缩率(As)、表面硬度、顺纹抗压强度和抗水流失性,同时采用红外光谱分析(FT-IR)对两种方法机理进行分析.研究结果...