Diffusion rate of polyethylene glycol into cell walls of red pine following vacuum impregnation

Rates of penetration of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weight (MW) 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 from 30% aqueous solutions into hydrated cell walls of red pine samples following vacuum impregnation were estimated by examining retained swelling of the samples after different post-treatment conditioning times. To model PEG diffusion into wood cell walls, a hollow cylinder diffusion model was developed and diffusion coefficients were estimated and compared to those determined with a plane membrane diffusion model. The models gave similar results. The diffusion coefficient of PEG MW 1,000 at room temperature was estimated to be in the order of 10⁻¹³ m²/s, while the penetration rates of both PEG 2,000 and 4,000 were about an order lower. These findings indicate that treatments of wood by PEG can be significantly shorter than present practices of soaking green samples in solution if the samples are vacuum/pressure impregnated with PEG solution.