Toward interface optimization of transparent wood with wood color and texture by silane coupling agent

This experiment aims to optimize the interface compatibility between the wood template and the resin through silane coupling agent KH550, so as to improve the optical and mechanical properties of transparent wood with solid wood color and texture, and provide a theoretical basis for the application of new materials in the fields of home design and manufacturing. In this study, silane coupling agent was used to directly modify the wood templates from which partial lignin was removed, and then, epoxy resin E57 matched with the refractive index of the wood templates was introduced, and samples were obtained after impregnation and curing. Then, the orthogonal experiment method was used to explore the process conditions used when the optical performance of the samples reached the optimal (the transmittance was 87.5%, and the haze was 35.39% at 800 nm wavelength): KH550 concentration 5 wt%, 20 min, 25 °C. And the order of the influence of various factors on the light transmittance of the samples was: reaction temperature > reaction time > KH550 concentration. Then, through infrared test, X-ray diffraction patterns and electron microscopy, it was concluded that KH550 made more chemical bonds between the wood template and the resin, so the overall interface compatibility of the sample became better. Therefore, the light transmittance, tensile strength and elongation at break of the samples modified by KH550 were significantly improved, and the haze was significantly reduced. In addition, transparent wood still retains part texture of solid wood, which is also the feature of this new material.