Analysis and characterization of microstructures of a TiO2/bamboo charcoal composite and modified poplar veneer

A type of TiO2/bamboo charcoal composite made by a dip-dry method was loaded onto wood veneer with a vacuum-pressure method in order to prepare modified poplar veneer. The pore structure parameters and surface morphology of the TiO2/bamboo charcoal composite were determined and analyzed by means of a porosimetry analyzer and SEM. The results show that the surface morphology of the composite does not change after being loaded with nano TiO2. However, its specific surface area (359.814 m2·g−1), pore volume (0.317 cm3·g−1) and average pore diameter (3.526 nm) increased; particularly the cumulative volume of pores was increased by 65.83%. In addition, the distribution range of the pores was wider than that of the bamboo charcoal. Combining the SEM of unmodified and modified poplar veneer, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that actually some TiO2 compounds, i.e., 4.08%, are imbedded in the modified poplar veneer.