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Open AccessArticle
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol with Different Molecular Weights on the Properties of Mytilaria laosensis Timber
by
Linhan He
Linhan He 1,2,†
,
Xiaoling Liu
Xiaoling Liu 1,†,
Yin Kuang
Yin Kuang 2,
Liuliu Wang
Liuliu Wang 1,
Songwu Chen
Songwu Chen 1,
Yufen Luo
Yufen Luo 1,* and
Yao Chen
Yao Chen 2,*
1
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation, Guangxi Forestry Research Institute, Nanning 530002, China
2
MOE Key Laboratory of Wooden Material Science and Application, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Forests 2024, 15(8), 1401; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081401 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 26 June 2024
/
Revised: 31 July 2024
/
Accepted: 9 August 2024
/
Published: 10 August 2024
Abstract
Mytilaria laosensis, a common fast-growing tree species in southern China, boasts excellent growth speed and attractive color and texture. However, due to its short growth cycle and high proportion of juvenile wood, it typically exhibits poor dimensional stability and low strength, which significantly limits its practical applications. This study uses vacuum impregnation to modify M. laosensis wood with polyethylene glycol (PEG), focusing on the effects and mechanisms of PEG with different molecular weights on wood properties. The results indicate that PEG enters the wood cell walls through capillary action and diffusion, forming hydrogen bonds with the free hydroxyl groups on cellulose and hemicellulose, which keeps the cell walls swollen and enhances dimensional stability. Post modification, the dimensional stability of M. laosensis wood improved, with an anti-swelling efficiency ranging from 61.43% to 71.22%, showing an initial increase followed by a decrease with increasing PEG molecular weight. The optimal PEG molecular weight for anti-swelling efficiency was 1500 Da, achieving 71.22%. The flexural modulus of elasticity and flexural strength of the treated wood also first decreased and then increased with increasing PEG molecular weight. Among them, the PEG1000-treated material showed the best performance, with the flexural modulus of elasticity increased by about 29% and the flexural strength increased by about 5% compared to untreated wood. Additionally, PEG, having a higher pyrolysis temperature than wood, raised the initial pyrolysis temperature and maximum pyrolysis rate temperature of M. laosensis wood, thus improving its thermal stability. These findings provide scientific evidence and technical support for the efficient utilization and industrialization of M. laosensis wood, promoting its widespread application and industrial development.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
He, L.; Liu, X.; Kuang, Y.; Wang, L.; Chen, S.; Luo, Y.; Chen, Y.
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol with Different Molecular Weights on the Properties of Mytilaria laosensis Timber. Forests 2024, 15, 1401.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081401
AMA Style
He L, Liu X, Kuang Y, Wang L, Chen S, Luo Y, Chen Y.
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol with Different Molecular Weights on the Properties of Mytilaria laosensis Timber. Forests. 2024; 15(8):1401.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081401
Chicago/Turabian Style
He, Linhan, Xiaoling Liu, Yin Kuang, Liuliu Wang, Songwu Chen, Yufen Luo, and Yao Chen.
2024. "Effect of Polyethylene Glycol with Different Molecular Weights on the Properties of Mytilaria laosensis Timber" Forests 15, no. 8: 1401.
https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081401
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