Summary
Oven dried basswood was vacuum impregnated with methyl methacrylate monomer containing various amounts of free radical catalyst and trifunctional crosslinking agent. The wood-monomer composite was polymerized at 60°C in an air oven and the rate of heat generated was followed by means of a thermocouple placed in the center of the sample.
Increasing the concentration of Vazo free radical catalyst in the basswood-MMA impregnated samples reduces the time to the exothermic peak and increases the exothermic peak temperature. High Vazo concentrations also decraase the percentage conversion of monomer to polymer.
Trimethyl propane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) crosslinker reduces the time to the exothermic peak and dramatically increases the exothermic peak temperature. The use of a crosslinker rapidly increases the initial viscosity of the system, and therefore, the autoacceleration of the polymerization is more pronounced.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aagaard, P. 1967. Swedish studies of wood-polymer composites. Svensk Kem. Tidskr. 79 (9): 501–510.
Autio, T., Meittinen, J. K. 1970. Experiments in Finland on properties of wood-polymer combinations. Forest Prod. J. 20 (3): 36–42.
Beall, F. C., Meyer, J. A., Skaar, C. 1966. Direct and RF heat curing of wood-plastic composites. Forest Prod. J. 16: (9): 99–106.
Flory, P. J. 1941. Molecular size distribution in three dimensional polymers. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 63: 3083–3090, 3091–3096, 3096–3100.
— 1953. Principles of polymer chemistry. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York p. 127–128.
Langwig, J. E., Meyer, J. A., Davidson, R. W. 1968. The influence of polymerimpregnation on the mechanical properties of basswood. Forest Prod. J. 18: (7): 33–36.
Matheson, M. S., Auer, E. E., Bevilacqua, E. B., Hart, E. J. 1951. Rate constants in free radical polymerizations. IV. Methyl acrylate. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 73: 5395–5400.
Meyer, J. A. 1965. Treatment of wood-polymer systems using catalyst-heat techniques. Forest Prod. J. 15 (9): 362–364.
—, 1968. The effect of crosslinking on the finishing properties of wood-plastics. Forest Prod. J. 18 (5): 89.
Norrish, R. G. W., Smith, R. R. 1942. Catalyzed polymerization of methyl methacrylate in liquid phase. Nature 150: 336–337.
Siau, J. F., Meyer, J. A., Skaar, C. 1965. A review of developments in dimensional stabilization of wood using radiation techniques. Forest Prod. J. 15 (4): 162–166.
—, Meyer, J. A. 1966. Comparison of the properties of heat and radiation cured wood-polymer combinations. Forest Prod. J. 16 (8): 47–56.
Trommsdorff, E., Kohle, H., Lagally, P. 1948. Zur Polymerisation des Methatcrylatsäure methylesters. Colloquium on high polymers, Freiburg 1944. Makromol. Chem. 1: 169–198.
Young, R. A., Meyer, J. A. 1968. Heartwood and sapwood impregnation with vinyl monmers. Forest Prod. J. 18 (4): 66–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Our thanks are due to DuPont Company and Sartomer Resins for supplying the monomers and catalysts. Research funds were provided by Organized Research Budget of the College of Forestry.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Duran, J.A., Meyer, J.A. Exothermic heat released during catalytic polymerization of basswood-methyl methacrylate composites. Wood Science and Technology 6, 59–66 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351809
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00351809