Effect of microwave plasma treatment on surface wettability of common teak wood

The improvement of wood surface wettability can clearly improve bonding properties, as well as enhance physical and mechanical properties of wood composites. In our investigation, the microwave plasma (MWP) technique was adopted to treat the surface of common teak. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the contact angles of liquids and calculating the free surface energy. The results show that the modification effect improved when the sample was located 120 mm from the resonance cavity, rather than at 80 mm. A MWP treatment over a short span of time is useful to lower the contact angles and improve the surface wettability considerably. The range of decreasing contact angles, tested by water, could reach 74% at a distance of 120 mm. __________ Translated from Journal of Northeast Forestry University, 2007, 35(12): 31–33 译自: 东北林业大学学报]